Behavioral counselling for subjects with acquired hearing loss. A new approach to hearing tactics

Effects of behavioral counselling of subjects with an acquired hearing loss were evaluated in an experimental design. The study included a group of 20 hearing-impaired subjects who were assessed and randomly allocated to a treatment or control group. Behavioural counselling, individualized according to the results of functional analysis, was then given to 10 subjects and included the teaching of 'hearing tactics'. The groups were measured three times, pre-counselling and post-counselling and at a 15-month follow-up, after which treatment results were analysed. Significant (time x treatment) interactions were followed by post-hoc testing revealing that the treated group had improved in several areas of functioning while controls had not. These results were in agreement with interview data. The findings indicate that a behavioural counselling approach to hearing tactics is beneficial in the understanding and rehabilitation of hearing loss, especially over time.