Desensitisation……….. A long term perspective

Denny Fransman SLT/Audiologist

HALD SIG April 2010University of Leeds

Contents:Contents:

Morning session “How”Morning session “How” WhatWhat?? WhyWhy? ? WhenWhen? ?

Why would anyone be a Why would anyone be a “reluctant hearing aid wearer”“reluctant hearing aid wearer”

Tactile de-sensitisationTactile de-sensitisation

To increase To increase tolerance to tolerance to having a mould having a mould in earin ear

Auditory de-sensitisationAuditory de-sensitisation

Getting used to Getting used to amplified soundamplified sound

Why could mould be Why could mould be rejected?rejected?

unfamiliar sensationunfamiliar sensation

mould could be poor fitmould could be poor fit unable to verbalise discomfortunable to verbalise discomfort unable to remove???unable to remove???

general hyper-sensitivitygeneral hyper-sensitivity

no comprehension of functionno comprehension of function

Why could amplified sound Why could amplified sound be rejected?be rejected?

Used to relative silenceUsed to relative silence

No meaningNo meaning confusingconfusing frighteningfrightening unfamiliarunfamiliar

Poor audiometric data – poor aid settingPoor audiometric data – poor aid setting

Essential considerationsEssential considerations

Is the loss congenital or acquired?Is the loss congenital or acquired? If acquiredIf acquired

age of onsetage of onset

severity of lossseverity of loss

time lapse between onset and interventiontime lapse between onset and intervention

Regarding the learning disabilityRegarding the learning disability what does sound mean to this person?what does sound mean to this person?

Severity of Learning Disability (LD)Severity of Learning Disability (LD)

Other potential complicationsOther potential complications

Autistic spectrum disorderAutistic spectrum disorder HypersensitivityHypersensitivity Sensory integration problemsSensory integration problems Central auditory processing disordersCentral auditory processing disorders Hyper-reactivity associated with neurological Hyper-reactivity associated with neurological

damage e.g. cerebral palsydamage e.g. cerebral palsy

Back to basicsBack to basics

Why fit a hearing aid in the first place?Why fit a hearing aid in the first place?

What are the potential benefits of aiding ?What are the potential benefits of aiding ? Improvement in communicationImprovement in communication Environmental soundsEnvironmental sounds Pleasure or leisurePleasure or leisure

Is full time hearing aid use Is full time hearing aid use indicative of a successful indicative of a successful

outcome?outcome?

yes or no ??????yes or no ??????

Don’t loose sight of your Don’t loose sight of your objectives for aidingobjectives for aiding

Improve communication

Environmental sounds

Aiding objectives

Enjoyment

Questions ????Questions ????