Goal planning in audiological rehabilitation

This paper describes the processes involved in goal planning, a means of structuring and evaluating a rehabilitation programme which is individually designed for a particular patient. The goal planning procedure involves a multi-disciplinary effort with the patient as an integral member of the team. Goals, which are identified from a strengths-needs list compiled by the team for a patient, are broken down into specific steps which should be easy to achieve by a given target date. The patient's strengths are used to help achieve the goals. Each step should be written in clear and objective terms and the use of vague goals such as 'the patient should make better use of a hearing aid', should be avoided. Goal planning does not dictate which therapy should be used but it does provide a framework for implementing any therapy that the team decide is appropriate. An example of a goal plan used in an audiological rehabilitation clinic is given.