As all hearing healthcare professionals know, hearing loss affects much more than the ability to detect and understand sound—it can increase cognitive load, contribute to fatigue, and impact social and emotional well‑being. While providers are now well aware of these links, many are unsure how to address the topic with patients in an ethical, informed, and appropriate way.
This session turns the latest research on hearing and cognition into practical tools you can use right away. Through real‑world examples, you’ll learn how the AIMER framework (Ask, Inform, Manage, Encourage, Refer) helps guide clear, confident, and compassionate conversations about listening effort, memory questions, and cognitive health.
Attendees will walk away with strategies for uncovering patients’ lived experiences, normalizing cognitive and emotional strain, building personalized care plans, and knowing when to collaborate with other professionals. By applying AIMER in daily practice, you can reduce patient anxiety, boost engagement, and deliver truly holistic care that supports hearing, cognitive, and emotional well‑being.
