1. Tinnitus activities THERAPY
Session 2
Hearing & Communication

2. Session Overview Goals of therapy Your hearing
Factors affecting hearing and communication
How to improve your hearing
Activities for home
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3. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL
Goals of therapy
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4. Goals Today
Reduce communication difficulties associated with hearing loss and/or tinnitus
Reduce stress associated with communication in general
Key Concepts
Ask: are there any other goals you have for our visit today? Any other communication related issues you want to be sure we talk about?
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5. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL
YOUr hearing
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6. Let’s Talk About Your Audiogram
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7. Factors affecting hearing & communication
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8. Factors Affecting Communication
Hearing loss
Background noise
Ability to see who is speaking
Familiarity with the topic discussed
Stress level
Key Concepts
There are five factors that affect communication that we’re going to walk through today.
Ask patient: Which is of these is the greatest concern for you?
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9. 1. Hearing Loss There are three types of hearing loss
Impacts on communication:
Some sounds not heard, some sounds distorted
Low-pitch sounds louder, high-pitch softer
Fatigue from effort to communicate
Key Concepts
There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. Identify which type of hearing loss this patient has and how that may impact communication.
Ask patient: Which of these do you notice?
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10. 2. Background Noise Tips: Remove noise Re-position yourself
Key Concepts
Background noise can be difficult for anyone – even those with normal hearing. The noise covers the speech.
Strategies:
Remove noise source if possible
Move away from noise or re-position yourself so that the noise source is away from speaker
Ask: Would either of these strategies been an option last time you ate out?
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11. 3. Ability to see who is speaking
Tips:
Lip reading
Facial cues
Body language
Your familiarity with the speaker makes a big difference!
Key Concepts
Review strategies
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12. 4. Familiarity with the topic
Factors:
Knowledge of conversation
Key vocabulary
Key Concepts
Review strategies
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13. 5. Your stress level Key Concepts
Your stress level also impacts communication. If you are calm and relaxed you have more energy to devote to focus and employing your communication strategies. If you’re stressed out, you’re likely to become frustrated quickly.
Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

14. Factors Affecting Communication
Hearing loss
Background noise
Ability to see who is speaking
Familiarity with the topic discussed
Stress level
Key Concepts
Ask patient:
Which of these situations causes you difficulty?
What techniques have you tried to improve communication?
What techniques have been successful / unsuccessful?
Remember:
Tinnitus is not damaging your hearing
When you focus on your tinnitus, it is harder to attend to your communication partner
Tinnitus might make some sounds difficult to hear.
Which of these situations causes YOU difficulty?
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15. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL
Improve your hearing
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16. Strategies Amplification Watching faces Using “repair strategies
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17. 1. Amplification Options: Hearing aids Cochlear implants
Assistive listening devices
Key Concepts
Is patient utilizing any of these options?
Is patient curious about any of these options?
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18. What is your experience with hearing aids?
1. Amplification
Hearing aid benefits:
Discover new sounds
Improves opportunities to interact in conversation
Localization of sound – important for safety
Key Concepts
Ask: What’s your experience with hearing aids?
What is your experience with hearing aids?
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19. 1. Amplification Hearing aid issues:
May amplify sounds we don’t want to hear
Can sound tinny if tuned improperly
Can take time to adjust to how everything now sounds – including your own voice
Key Concepts
Troubleshoot any issues with patient.
Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

20. 2. Watching Faces Lighting tips:
Ensure good lighting on speaker’s face
Avoid back lighting
Positioning tips:
Face the speaker
Position yourself closer to the speaker
Minimize noise
Minimize visual distractions
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21. 2. Watching Faces Anticipatory strategies:
Know topic and key vocabulary
Practice dialogue
Use relaxation techniques
Lip reading strategies
Consider topic of discussion
Watch facial expressions and gestures
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22. 2. Watching Faces Ask the speaker to: Slow down and speak clearly
Face you while speaking
Refrain from chewing gum
Keep their hands away from their mouth
Not shout
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23. 3. Using “repair” strategies
Repeat:
“Could you please repeat that?”
“I’m sorry, I missed you said because of the noise over there.”
Key Concepts
Let’s practice. How else could we ask someone to repeat themselves?
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24. 3. Using “repair” strategies
Rephrase:
“Could you please rephrase that? I heard you say something about a baseball game?”
Key Concepts
Let’s practice. How else could we ask someone to rephrase?
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25. 3. Using “repair” strategies
Elaborate:
“I’m having a little difficulty following. Could you please give me a little more information?”
Key Concepts
Let’s practice. How else could we ask someone to elaborate and provide more information?
Which repair strategies would you be most comfortable using?
In summary (for this section), you positively influence communication interactions by:
Taking charge of your hearing loss
Guiding your communication partner
Informing communication partners that you have a hearing loss
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26. Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL
Activities for home
Jane Doe Hearing Clinic. Chicago, IL

27. Try It…
Keep track of which strategies you use and how they help you hear and communicate better:
Can you see the speaker’s face?
Where is the lighting?
Can you move to see the speaker’s face better?
If you’re a new hearing aid user, try to distinguish different sounds.
Rehears repair sentences.
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28. Thank you for attending!
Questions?
Thank you for attending!
Jane Doe Hearing Center. Chicago, IL

29. Jane Doe Hearing Center
555 Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 01010
(555)
Monday-Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Contact Us
Jane Doe Hearing Center. Chicago, IL