Do you find it difficult to understand speech while using hearing aids?
Let’s talk about auditory training and techniques to improve speech clarity.
The Benefits of Auditory Training:
Auditory training can help improve speech understanding and clarity.
It’s like going to the gym for your ears and brain!
The Power of Auditory Training
Research shows that auditory training can significantly improve speech perception, even for those with hearing loss. The underlying principle of auditory training is neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form new neural connections in response to learning and experience. Through targeted exercises, auditory training aims to promote beneficial changes in neural networks related to auditory processing.
It’s never too late to start!
Let’s take an example.
Imagine hearing your grandchild’s voice clearly and enjoying a conversation without constantly asking them to repeat themselves. Auditory training can be particularly beneficial for people who wear hearing aids by complementing and enhancing their hearing aid use in several ways:
- Improved Speech Understanding: Hearing aids amplify sounds, but auditory training can help individuals better understand and interpret those amplified sounds, especially in challenging listening situations (e.g., noisy environments, group conversations).
- Enhanced Listening Skills: Auditory training exercises can improve auditory discrimination and sound recognition abilities, making it easier for individuals to differentiate between similar sounds and understand speech more clearly.
- Adaptation to New Hearing Aids: When individuals first start using hearing aids, auditory training can aid in the acclimatization process by helping them adjust to new sounds and maximize the benefits of their hearing aids.
- Better Communication Strategies: Auditory training often includes communication strategies that help individuals with hearing aids better navigate social interactions, such as asking for repetitions or using contextual cues to understand conversations.
- Maintenance of Auditory Skills: Regular auditory training sessions can help maintain and potentially improve auditory processing abilities over time, supporting long-term hearing aid use effectiveness.
- Personalized Rehabilitation: Auditory training programs can be tailored to address specific areas of difficulty for each individual, whether related to speech perception, auditory memory, or other aspects of auditory processing.
- Increased Confidence: As auditory skills improve through training, individuals with hearing aids may experience increased confidence in their ability to communicate effectively in various situations.
- Support for Cognitive Function: Some auditory training programs incorporate cognitive exercises that can benefit overall cognitive function, which is important for individuals with hearing loss who may be at higher risk for cognitive decline.
Overall, auditory training acts synergistically with hearing aids by focusing on improving the brain’s ability to process auditory information effectively.
Here are some resources you might find useful:
- Listening Games and Activities: Websites like HearBuilder offer interactive games designed to improve auditory processing and listening skills in children.
- Audiobooks and Podcasts: Listening to audiobooks or podcasts can help improve listening skills and auditory processing in a more casual and enjoyable way. Platforms like Audible, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts have extensive libraries.
- Online Courses and Workshops: Websites such as LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement),Udemy, Coursera, and edX offer courses and workshopson auditory processing, listening skills, and related topics.
- Speech Therapy Resources: Speech-language pathologists often recommend specific exercises and resources tailored to improve auditory skills. Websites like SpeechPathology.com offer courses and resources in this area.
- Sound Discrimination Apps: There are apps specifically designed to help with sound discrimination and auditory training, such as Angel Sound and Listening Power Preschool.
- Educational Websites: Educational websites like Super Duper Publications provide resources and games for auditory training aimed at children and young learners.
- Brain Training Programs: Programs like Lumosity and BrainHQ sometimes include auditory exercises as part of their cognitive training regimes.
- Professional Guidance: For specific needs or disorders, consulting with your hearing healthcare professional or with a speech-language pathologist can provide tailored auditory training recommendations and resources.
When selecting auditory training resources, consider the specific goals and needs you have or those of the person you’re assisting. Tailoring the exercises to match those needs will yield the best results.
Start your auditory training journey today!
So, let’s make auditory training a part of our daily routine.
It’s an investment in our hearing health and overall well-being. For more tips and guidance, feel free to contact Enticare’s expert hearing team or check out our YouTube video to learn more! Watch Now.