AR client post

My client is 75 years old, and is being seen for aural rehabilitation. He has a severe, sloping progressive sensorineural hearing loss and has been seen in therapy for about 4 years. He is mainly working on developing and refining his speech reading skills, and has utilized a variety of therapy techniques including computer-generated programs and live voice practice.

In therapy, I have been using a variety of presentation techniques to practice speech reading, from live voice reading to computer programs wherein a video is played of someone saying different words/phrases, etc. One reason I have been doing this is to keep the client interested and motivated. He is an intelligent man and has already experienced many of the therapy techniques used at Allen Hall, and enjoys something new. He seems to enjoy not knowing what to expect when he comes for therapy each session. This is where I have considered patient values and preferences in choosing my variation of presentation techniques.

My supervisor has encouraged my use of a variety of presentations, both to keep my client “on his toes,” and to allow him to practice his speech reading in the same structured therapy sessions, but using different faces and presentations.

Research has shown that synthetic faces can provide valuable support to boost comprehension in speech reading tasks (Lidestam, Lyxell, & Lundeberg, 2001). Thus, although the computer programs I currently use are video clips of natural faces, and they fall in the middle in the continuum between natural and synthetic faces, I think this research plays a part to support this. Using the semi-synthetic faces on the computerized programs can help provide my client with necessary practice using speech reading techniques with different speakers while remaining in the therapy room.

I feel this is effective. Although my client has mentioned that he finds the computer program “repetitive,” he has stated that he sees the value in both its repetition and the presentation of different faces on which he can practice speech reading.

Reference: Lidestam, B, Lyxell, B, & Lundeberg, M (2001). Speech-reading of synthetic and natural faces. Scandinavian Audiology. 30, 89-94.