Services
Drawing on the expertise of Northwestern faculty and researchers, the LLC is able to offer specialized resources and clinical services for adults who have a known loss of hearing or who suspect they may have less hearing agility, especially in noise.
First-time LLC clients undergo a full hearing evaluation to assess and clarify their needs. Clinic staff then uses the results to develop an auditory training program designed to maximize hearing and listening abilities, either with or without a hearing aid. At the end of training, clients undergo a complete reevaluation to obtain an objective measure of progress.
The hearing evaluation includes
- hearing-sensitivity testing
- assessment of middle-ear health
- tests of speech understanding under noisy conditions
- BioMARK evaluation of brain-based (neurophysiologic) responses to sound
- examination of sounds generated by the inner ear (otocoustic emissions)
- summary of assessment results
The LLC’s auditory training program has three components:
Training the brain to listen
Using a computer in the LLC lab or at home, clients will train on the Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE) auditory training system, putting their hearing and listening skills to use under various (simulated) acoustic conditions. In the process, clients become conscious of how to “focus their hearing” in order to listen effectively, while the training promotes structural and functional changes in the brain that can make listening and hearing less challenging.
Personal training
Working with a family member or friend over a series of four two-hour sessions, clients practice using speech-reading skills, listening successfully in different settings, and applying communication strategies. Sessions are planned under the guidance of LLC clinicians and may take place in one-on-one, group, and everyday-life settings.
Assistive listening devices: Selection and fitting (if appropriate)
If a detailed analysis by LLC clinicians suggests that an assistive listening device, such as an amplified phone, is appropriate, the clinic provides the opportunity to select from and test several types. Clients are welcome to practice using the hearing aid in their daily lives on a two-week trial basis.
