AN EVALUATION OF A BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT APPROACH TO HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Twenty-four elderly hearing impaired Ss participated in an experimenta l treatment study and received either behavioural group treatment or s erved as untreated controls. The treatment package included applied re laxation, video self-modelling, exposure, information and various copi ng skills. Assessments (pre-post) were conducted using a structured vi deo-interview measuring coping behaviour. In order to evoke behavioura l compensation small acoustic provocations were included in the interv iew. The edited videos were then rated blindly by two trained observer s. Pre-post assessments also included daily registered hearing problem s on visual analogue scales and a questionnaire. Finally, a one month follow-up blind telephone interview was conducted. Results showed sign ificant beneficial effects in favour of the treatment package and supp ort the implementation of a behavioural approach in audiological rehab ilitation research.