Rehabilitation of hearing-impaired adults

Hearing loss produces a communication handicap which is not always predictable from audiometric results. Handicap questionnaires can be useful for identification of potential rehabilitation candidates. Hearing aids have been improved but cannot be expected to compensate for all the speech perception problems associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Other communication aids can be used to reduce hearing handicap. Effective use of devices often requires more instruction than is currently available. A comprehensive rehabilitation program takes into account individual circumstances and provides for a variety of services in addition to provision of aids.