While hearing aids and cochlear implants can help a person detect sounds better, the ability to make sense of those sounds has to be learned. Aural rehabilitation helps patients with hearing loss get the most benefit from hearing aids or a cochlear implant. University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is the Twin Cities’ leader in aural rehabilitation.

Aural rehabilitation focuses on:

• Detecting sounds, including vocalizations and environmental sounds
• Learning to discriminate between sounds (recognizing if sounds are the same or different)
• Identifying sounds (what is the sound or the word)
• Comprehension (using listening to better understand the environment)
• Providing support as the individual returns to daily life and work activities