[Auditory rehabilitation programmes for adults: what do we know about their effectiveness?].

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Context:

• Hearing loss is a significant global health issue, impacting millions and ranking third in disability-adjusted life years.
• Hearing aids are common, but auditory rehabilitation programs aim to further improve communication abilities.
• This review focuses on communication strategies within auditory rehabilitation.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation programs centered on communication strategies.
• To synthesize findings from systematic reviews on auditory training and communication-focused rehabilitation.

Summary:

• A narrative review identified three articles, including systematic reviews on communication strategies for hearing loss.
• The 'Active Communication Education' program showed effectiveness as a group auditory rehabilitation intervention.
• Both hearing aid fitting and communication programs are linked to better social participation and quality of life.

Impact:

• Group auditory rehabilitation programs show strong potential for reducing activity limitations and social restrictions.
• Effective rehabilitation enhances overall quality of life for individuals with hearing loss.
• Findings support the integration of communication strategies into audiological rehabilitation plans.