[Auditory group therapy in adult cochlear implant rehabilitation]

Auditory training is an established intervention in adult cochlear implant (CI) aural rehabilitation. In most cases, training is implemented in an individual therapy setting. Increasing patient numbers and the associated time-economic and cost-related demands as well as psychosocial and communicative aspects support the use of aural group interventions.

This study aimed 1) to describe concepts and contents of group interventions for adult CI users and 2) to present results of a questionnaire-based evaluation.

Group interventions have been offered at the CI Centre Erlangen CICERO for several years. In Auditory Training Groups, exercises have priority, while Thematic Group Workshops focus on psychosocial aspects and provide information for the participants. The Auditory Training Groups were evaluated based on a patient questionnaire. Additionally, the reliability of the questionnaire was analyzed.

The median overall satisfaction of CI users participating in Auditory Training Groups was rated as good. Training of speech perception in noise as well as communicative exchange are of great importance for CI users. They rated the therapeutic design as very good to good. Reliability analysis showed significant positive intercorrelations of the questionnaire items.

Group interventions are well accepted by CI users and represent a useful complement to individual therapy during the rehabilitation process. As group interventions place special demands on patients and therapists, structured and well-proven concepts should be used in practice.