Aural / Hearing Rehabilitation

Palmetto Audiology and Speech Therapy is the only office in the Lowcountry now offering a true hearing rehabilitation program. Like Physical therapy will help a patient "learn to walk again", Aural Rehabilitation therapy helps a patient "learn to hear again". Services are covered by all major medical insurances, and our insurance team can help find out what your coverage is.

What is Aural Rehabilitation?

Aural Rehabilitation is thought of as ‘physical therapy for the ears'. It benefits all of our newly fit hearing aid wearers as well as patients who have worn hearing devices for years.

Caroline Pittard, Palmetto Audiology's Speech Pathologist is trained in helping patients to enhance their communication by using their hearing aids as part of an Aural Rehabilitation Program.

Primarily, she utilizes the LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement) Program. It is a computer based program that you can use right here in the office over a 10-week therapy period.

Hearing ≠ Listening.....Get the Message

Question: How does LACE improve my hearing? 

Answer: LACE does not improve your hearing. LACE can improve your listening. Even people with normal hearing can be poor listeners. Good listening skills are one of the components essential for effective communication. LACE is designed to enhance your ability to listen and communicate with or without a hearing instrument. LACE has proven to increase listening skills up to 40%.

Training with Hearing Aids -
No matter how good your hearing aids are, you are not going to achieve maximal communication skills without some kind of training. Hearing aids are designed to get the sound into your ear and up to your brain. But what your brain does with that sound is not going to be a function of the hearing aid. Often times, new hearing aid wearers are not able to adjust to the new sounds they are hearing and they end up returning their hearing aids.

Training without Hearing Aids -
It is not required to have a hearing aid to use from LACE. Anyone who has difficulty with hearing in noisy environments, listening, or communicating can benefit from LACE.

LACE is a covered service through many insurance companies, including Medicare. If you are an experience hearing aid user or brand new - you can find benefits by completing a 10-week LACE Aural Rehabilitation Program.