Counseling, Psychosocial Support and Assertiveness Training

educating

inform the public and other professionals on the communication needs of persons with hearing loss and related disorders

advocating

advocate for the communication needs of all persons, including advocating for their rights and funding of services and devices for those with hearing loss and related disorders

types of interventions

• counseling

• psychosocial support

• assertiveness training

counseling

understand own hearing loss

cycle

• understand HL effects

• acceptance

• management of communication difficulties

• decreased stress-related issues

• increased satisfaction of aural rehab porcess

• increased self-motivation

• continuation of aural rehab plan

psychosocial support

learn psychological and social difficulties resulting from hearing loss

assertiveness training

learn to state negative and positive feelings

informational counseling

1. inform patient and/or family about hearing loss

2. present informally as a dialogue (easy to understand language)

3. use explicit categorization

personal adjustment counseling

• focus on adjustment and acceptance (creates patient centered approach)

• cognitive approach (modify thought process)

• behavioral approach (modify behavior)

• affective approach (modify emtions)

psychosocial support

alleviate hearing-related stress, including

• stress in understanding speech

• adjusting to being person with HL

• adjusting to society’s reaction to self

• feeling inadequate

• feeling isolated

• having negative self-image

consequences for frequent communication partners

• feelings of frustration regarding communication difficulties

• reduced talking and joking

• spouses reporting increased volume levels, repetition, and serving as interpreter

• family accommodations

assertiveness training

• enhance communication b/w persona and communication partner

• identify HL to others

• request modification to environment

• communication partner facilitates understanding of message

• positively reinforce communication partners