The importance of having a comprehensive and integrated approach to treating hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders is receiving more attention in recent years and across the entire field of hearing healthcare. This includes supports for cognitive, emotional and mental wellbeing. People who experience audiological issues are at a higher risk of accelerated health problems like depression, anxiety, fatigue, social withdrawal and issues with recalling and remembering information.
The conventional 'impairment focused' model
However, generally, the hearing health industry focuses on hearing and hearing loss as an entity. It is standard practice to look at reduced hearing ability on an audiogram as the primary ‘problem’ to be solved.The same can be said for tinnitus and in the case of balance disorders where specialists mainly concentrate on assessing and treating basic reflexive functions. There is rudimentary consideration of cognitive function, psychological and perception issues.Over ten years ago, Cubex stepped away from the traditional ‘impairment focused’ model. From a hearing health point of view, the purpose of a conventional model is to improve hearing with hearing aid technology.There is little consideration for a person's:
Cognitive Function
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing
Social Wellbeing
Communication Relationships & Wellbeing
Functional Hearing Ability
Capability & readiness to engage in the treatment process
In other words, it does not consider the whole person.
The whole person
At Cubex; these ‘whole person’ considerations are key to all decisions made regarding treatment and management of hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. We go beyond the ear and provision of hearing aid technology and place a strong emphasis on supporting these whole person considerations by integrating the following into care and as required:
Cognitive assessment & education
Cognitive & working memory training
Lifestyle coaching
Psychological support
Mindfulness-based hearing health programmes