The Listening Cube: A Three Dimensional Auditory Training Program

OBJECTIVES: Here we present the Listening Cube, an auditory training program for children and adults receiving cochlear implants, developed during the clinical practice at the KIDS Royal Institute for the Deaf in Belgium. We provide information on the content of the program as well as guidance as to how to use it. METHODS: The Listening Cube is a three-dimensional auditory training model that takes the following into consideration: the sequence of auditory listening skills to be trained, the variety of materials to be used, and the range of listening environments to be considered. During auditory therapy, it is important to develop training protocols and materials to provide rapid improvement over a relatively short time period. Moreover, effectiveness and the general real-life applicability of these protocols to various users should be determined. RESULTS: Because this publication is not a research article, but comes out of good daily practice, we cannot state the main results of this study. We can only say that this auditory training model is very successful. Since the first report was published in the Dutch language in 2003, more than 200 therapists in Belgium and the Netherlands followed a training course elected to implement the Listening Cube in their daily practice with children and adults with a hearing loss, especially in those wearing cochlear implants. CONCLUSION: The Listening Cube is a tool to aid in planning therapeutic sessions created to meet individual needs, which is often challenging. The three dimensions of the cube are levels of perception, practice material, and practice conditions. These dimensions can serve as a visual reminder of the task analysis and of other considerations that play a role in structuring therapy sessions.