This September, the Ida Institute will release the G.R.O.U.P. (the Group Rehabilitation Online Utility Pack): an online tool to help hearing care professionals develop and conduct their own Group AR program. The online tool will also be presented at the 15th Annual Canadian Academy of Audiology Conference and Exhibition in October 2012.
Group aural/audiological rehabilitation is an effective and efficient way to help hearing-impaired persons and their communication partners adjust to their hearing loss, make the best use of hearing aids, and learn useful communication skills.
The G.R.O.U.P. tool contains a combination of videos of real-life Group AR sessions and content written by Group AR experts. The tool includes a Quick Start Guide that contains all of the information one would need to quickly get going and start a Group AR program. The tool also contains an extensive Resource Library, where one can explore best practices and suggestions for topics, facilitation methods and sessions for special audiences. Moreover, the tool will offer an Ask the Expert section, where one can pose a question and get assistance from the tool’s authors.
There is an overwhelming body of evidence that supports the implementation of Group AR for hearing impaired individuals and their communication partners. Research has shown that Group AR programs can be a very effective method to increase both hearing aid usage and overall patient satisfaction. Participants who attend group AR sessions have been found to return fewer hearing aids, employ communication strategies more frequently, and experience improved emotional and psychological well-being.
Recognizing the enormous value of Group AR, the Ida Institute collaborated with a group of leading experts in the field to create the G.R.O.U.P. tool. The tool authors include Jean-Pierre Gagne, Louise Hickson, Patricia Kricos, Jane Madell, Joseph Montano, Jill Preminger and Sam Trychin.