Leaders in Group Aural/Audiologic Rehabilitation Collaborate on Newest Ida Tool
Naerum, DK September 19 - Ida Institute has introduced the Group Rehabilitation Online Utility Pack (G.R.O.U.P), the newest addition to the non-profit institute's Tool Room of practical tools and strategies to open communication and engage patients in the self-management of their hearing loss. The easy-to-use G.R.O.U. P. online guide is designed to assist hearing care practitioners in developing group aural/audiologic rehabilitation (AR) programs for their practices. The guide features a combination of videos depicting actual Group AR sessions and informational content and best practices by leading Group AR experts from around the world.
"Research indicates that Group AR can be an effective way to increase hearing aid usage and overall patient satisfaction," says Ida Institute Managing Director Lise Lotte Bundesen. "Group AR provides a powerful support mechanism for people with hearing loss and their communication partners and can enhance practitioners' satisfaction. This new online tool will provide hearing care professionals with the information that they need to start their own Group AR programs."
Group AR sessions can help people adjust to living with hearing loss, make the best use of hearing aids, better manage conversations and increase self-advocacy. A growing body of research indicates a range of patient and practitioner benefits including: fewer returned hearing aids as compared to individuals who received new hearing aids but did not participate in Group AR; improved outcomes on health-related quality of life measures; and improved communication strategy usage compared to individuals who received new hearing aids, but did not participate in Group AR.
Click Here to view Overview Page (PDF).
Click Here to view Quick Start guide (PDF).
The G.R.O.U.P. tool includes a Quick Start guide, which provides basic information needed by hearing care professionals to develop and implement a two-session or eight-session Group AR program.
In addition, the tool contains a comprehensive resource library, developed with the support of the collaborating AR experts, that gives practitioners easy access to the information and research they need to better understand the value of Group AR and communicate that value to their colleagues, program managers and administrators.
Group AR experts who collaborated with Ida Institute in the development of the new tool include: Jean-Pierre Gagné, PhD, Université de Montreal; Louise Hickson, PhD, University of Queensland; Patricia Kricos, PhD, University of Florida in Gainesville; Jane Madell, PhD, consultant in pediatric audiology; Jill Preminger, PhD, University of Louisville and Sam Trychin, PhD, psychologist in private practice.
The G.R.O.U.P. tool is available free of charge at idainstitute.com, as are all of the tools in Ida Institute's comprehensive Tool Room.
