Auditory training is provided to children with hearing loss and to adults who have acquired hearing loss either fitted with Hearing aids or implanted with Cochlear Implant. Many a times children are born with hearing loss from birth. Hence, they are not exposed to sounds at all. Once, fitted with amplification devices they start hearing sounds which was unknown to them. Through auditory training the children/ adult is trained to listen to sounds, learn different sounds and differentiate them and then start understanding the meaning of sounds which in turn helps them to start producing sounds. Auditory training starts with a simpler task and keeps moving to difficult task as the child progresses. Once the child has reached a certain level, specific trainings can also be given as per child’s needs.
Speech Reading is the skill to recognise speech using both auditory and Visual cues. It can also involve other cues such as context, facial expressions, and gestures. Many adults or children with hearing loss may miss out on lot of auditory information due to their Hearing loss. They may have difficulty understanding or following conversations in different settings even with amplification devices. Speechreading can be encouraged and trained for such individuals who through this can benefit in having effective and meaningful communications.
Therapy post implantation depends on the age of the person who is implanted. For infants and children, Auditory Verbal approach is used in therapy. Adults with cochlear implant can also undergo auditory training. Auditory verbal therapy will help the patient to focus on their hearing modality and hence make the best use of the cochlear implants.