Auditory Training Supports Auditory Rehabilitation: A State-of-the-Art Review
Ear & Hearing
Stropahl, M., Besser, J., et al. (2019).
Ear & Hearing, 41(4), 697-704.
This systematic review investigates the effects of auditory or auditory-cognitive training on measures of speech perception and self-reported communication in adults with mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss.
No funding received
December 2012 to December 2018
Randomized control trials (RCTs), pseudo-RCTs, non-RCTs, and repeated measures including the comparison to a control group
16
Intensive auditory and auditory-cognitive training protocols demonstrate improvements in auditory communication abilities in adults with hearing loss. Studies reported a variety of outcomes as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Seven studies identified a significant improvement in on-task learning.</li>
<li>Ten studies found significant improvements on objective speech measures, while six studies did not find significant transfer effects.</li>
<li>On cognitive skills, two studies showed benefits to auditory attention and one study showed benefits to processing speed. Another study demonstrated improvement in working memory skills; however, three studies did not show working memory improvements.</li>
<li>Two studies investigating self-perceived benefit of auditory training reported mixed results depending on the measure used and the level of hearing aid experience of participants.</li>
<li>Three out of four studies observed long-term effects of auditory training persisting after the end of training (varying from 2 weeks to 6 months between studies).</li>
<li>Five studies reporting on compliance to auditory training found that 70-80% of participants completed the entire training, with compliant participants demonstrating greater improvements in speech perception.</li>
</ul>
The authors conclude that "intensive auditory [-cognitive] training protocols seem to be a valid tool to improve auditory communication skills, especially, if they include a combination of auditory and cognitive tasks" (p. 703). A combination of auditory training and sensory rehabilitation with hearing aids demonstrates the greatest benefit. Additional research investigating the effect of timing, duration, and schedule of auditory training on long-term auditory benefits is warranted.
