Using Imagery Can Encourage Hearing Aid Use in Reluctant Users

摘要

Allowing patients to externalize and personalize their hearing loss may lead to better patient morale and cooperation, convincing even reluctant users to wear their hearing aids. Psychologist Michael Harvey, PhD, who is in private practice in Framing-ham, MA, speaking at the American Academy of Audi-ologys AudiologyNow! con-ference in March, said externalizing conversations has proven successful for his patients. "It is theoretical imagery," he said. "The helper - psychologist or audiologist - doesn't try to help right away, but instead becomes an investigative reporter, wanting to learn as much as possible about me hearing loss without trying to help. We try to develop an expose on the identity of the hearing loss and how it relates to the patient." The first step is to elicit a description of the problem from the patient. Dr. Harvey suggested asking the patient what form the hearing loss takes, what its voice sounds like, and what it looks like. These questions may seem juvenile, Dr. Harvey said, but "once the older patients get over the initial awkwardness, it becomes fun."