Audiological Rehabilitation
Also written as: AR — Audiological Rehabilitation
A multidisciplinary intervention program aimed at minimising hearing loss–related disability and improving communication function through hearing devices, counselling, and auditory training.
Full Definition
Audiological rehabilitation (AR), also termed aural rehabilitation, encompasses the full spectrum of services provided to individuals with hearing loss to optimize communication. This includes hearing aid fitting and management, cochlear implant mapping, auditory training, speechreading instruction, communication strategy counselling, and family education. AR is distinguished from habilitation—used when a person has never had normal hearing—versus rehabilitation, implying restoration of previously held function. Editors should use 'rehabilitation' for post-lingual or adventitiously deafened adults, and 'habilitation' for children with congenital hearing loss. The terms are not interchangeable. 'Aural rehabilitation' and 'audiological rehabilitation' may be treated as synonymous, but the document should choose one form and apply it consistently.
Usage
Usage note: Reserve 'habilitation' for congenitally deaf patients who have never had functional hearing; use 'rehabilitation' for those with acquired hearing loss.
In Context
- "Following cochlear implant activation, the patient was enrolled in an audiological rehabilitation program comprising weekly auditory training sessions." — Cochlear implant post-operative care plan
- "The document used 'habilitation' and 'rehabilitation' interchangeably for adult patients; only 'rehabilitation' is appropriate in this context." — Editorial correction note