Hearing is not only about the ears

Hearing aids can make sounds more audible. They can help bring speech, environmental sounds and everyday conversations back into clearer reach.
But hearing is not only about making sound louder.
Your brain also needs to detect, organise, interpret and make sense of the information it receives. This is especially important in difficult listening environments, such as restaurants, group conversations, meetings, family gatherings and other places where background noise competes with speech.
That is where auditory training may help.
At Ear & Hearing Australia, we may recommend LACE AI Pro as part of a broader hearing rehabilitation plan for suitable clients.

What is LACE AI Pro?

LACE stands for Listening and Communication Enhancement.
LACE AI Pro is a structured auditory training program designed to help people practise listening skills through guided exercises completed at home.
It is designed to support the brain’s ability to process speech and sound, particularly when listening becomes more demanding.
Depending on the program and individual plan, training may focus on areas such as:
Understanding speech in background noise
Following rapid speech
Listening attention
Listening memory
Processing competing sounds
Communication confidence in challenging environments
LACE AI Pro is not a hearing aid, and it does not replace a hearing assessment, medical care or professional hearing-aid fitting.
Instead, it can be used as an additional rehabilitation tool for people who may benefit from structured listening practice.

Why hearing aids may not solve every listening difficulty

A person can have well-fitted hearing aids and still find certain situations difficult.
This does not necessarily mean the hearing aids are not working.
Speech understanding is influenced by many factors, including the degree and type of hearing loss, background noise, room acoustics, attention, memory, fatigue, communication habits and how long the brain has been receiving reduced sound information.
Hearing aids can improve access to sound. However, they cannot completely remove the challenge of listening in every environment.
Auditory training is based on the idea that listening skills can be practised, much like physical rehabilitation helps people practise movement after injury or surgery.
The aim is not perfection. The aim is to build stronger listening skills, greater confidence and more effective strategies for real-life communication.

Why the first fitting is only the beginning

A hearing aid fitting is an important milestone, but it is not the finish line.

During the early stages of hearing-aid use, people need time, guidance and professional support. They may need help learning how to insert, remove, charge and clean their devices. They may need assistance connecting to a phone, television or accessories. They may also need gradual adjustments to achieve the right balance of clarity, comfort and natural sound.

Fine-tuning is not simply changing the volume.

It is a clinical process that considers how the hearing aids are performing in real life, how comfortable they feel, which situations remain difficult and how your hearing needs may change as you adapt.

For some people, loudness perception has changed after years of reduced hearing. Sounds that are normal may initially feel too loud or overwhelming. With appropriate programming, counselling and review, we can help guide the process of adaptation more comfortably and safely.

Who may benefit from auditory training?

LACE AI Pro may be considered for people who:

• Have recently started using hearing aids
• Feel that speech remains difficult to follow in noise
• Find group conversations tiring
• Struggle with fast talkers or competing voices
• Want to make the most of their hearing technology
• Experience listening fatigue
• Want structured home-based practice between appointments
• Are motivated to work on listening skills as part of their rehabilitation plan

It may also be useful for people who do not yet use hearing aids but experience specific listening difficulties and have been assessed by an audiologist.

However, auditory training is not suitable or necessary for everyone. The decision should be based on your hearing assessment, goals, listening challenges, motivation and overall care plan.

What does the training involve?

LACE AI Pro is designed to make auditory training accessible from home.

The program uses structured exercises that gradually challenge listening and speech-processing skills. Your progress can be tracked over time, allowing your audiologist to discuss your experience, identify areas of difficulty and adjust your rehabilitation plan where needed.

The most important factor is regular, realistic practice.

Like any rehabilitation exercise, progress can vary. Some people notice greater confidence quickly, while others benefit most from combining training with hearing-aid fine-tuning, communication strategies and ongoing clinical guidance.

The aim is to build useful listening habits over time—not to create pressure or unrealistic expectations.

LACE AI Pro is part of a bigger plan

At Ear & Hearing Australia, we do not view auditory training as a standalone product.

LACE AI Pro may be recommended alongside:

• Comprehensive hearing assessment
• Hearing-aid fitting and verification
• Fine-tuning appointments
• Counselling and education
• Communication strategies
• Family or communication-partner support
• Assistive listening devices or remote microphones
• Ongoing hearing reviews

This is important because every person’s hearing journey is different.

Some people may need changes to their hearing-aid programming. Others may benefit from a remote microphone for work or social settings. Some may need support with listening fatigue, tinnitus or family communication. Others may benefit from structured auditory training.

The right plan is the one that addresses your actual needs.

What LACE AI Pro cannot do

It is important to be clear about what auditory training can and cannot do.

LACE AI Pro does not cure hearing loss.

It does not replace hearing aids when hearing aids are clinically recommended.

It does not replace medical assessment when there are signs of ear disease, sudden hearing changes, dizziness, pain or other concerns that require medical attention.

It is also not a guarantee that every difficult listening situation will become easy.

Rather, it is a practical rehabilitation tool that may help strengthen listening skills and support confidence when used consistently as part of an appropriate care plan.

Better hearing starts with a complete approach

Better hearing often requires more than amplification.

It may involve understanding your hearing loss, setting realistic goals, selecting the right technology, learning communication strategies, allowing time for adaptation and supporting the brain’s ability to process sound.

LACE AI Pro can be one useful part of that journey.

Our audiologists can discuss whether auditory training may be suitable for you and how it could fit into your broader hearing rehabilitation plan.

References

Boothroyd, A. (2007). Adult aural rehabilitation: What is it and does it work? Trends in Amplification, 11(2), 63–71.
Olson, A. D. (2015). Options for auditory training for adults with hearing loss. Seminars in Hearing, 36(4), 284–295.
Miller, J. D., Watson, C. S., Kistler, D. J., Wightman, F. L., & Preminger, J. E. (2015). Evaluation of speech-perception training for hearing-aid users. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 26(1), 34–48.
Neurotone AI. (2026). LACE Pro auditory training platform.

Why comprehensive hearing rehabilitation matters

For many people, taking the first step toward better hearing begins with a simple question:

“Do I need hearing aids?”

Sometimes the answer is yes. Hearing aids can be an important and highly effective part of treatment for hearing loss. They can improve access to sound, support conversation and help people reconnect with the voices, places and activities they value.

But successful hearing care is about much more than selecting a device.

Hearing loss affects more than the ears. It can influence how easily you follow conversation, manage background noise, stay connected socially, participate at work, enjoy family gatherings and feel confident in everyday life.

That is why, at Ear & Hearing Australia, we see hearing aids as one part of a broader hearing rehabilitation journey.

Hearing better is not the same as simply hearing more sound

Modern hearing aids are sophisticated medical devices. They can make speech and environmental sounds more accessible while helping reduce the effects of background noise.

However, hearing aids cannot instantly undo every effect of hearing loss.

When hearing has been reduced for some time, the brain may have adapted to receiving less clear sound information. Once hearing aids are introduced, everyday sounds may initially seem unfamiliar, sharp, busy or louder than expected.

This is often part of the adjustment process.

The ears receive sound, but the brain still needs to organise, interpret and attach meaning to it. That is particularly important when listening in busy restaurants, group conversations, meetings, family events or other challenging environments.

A successful outcome, therefore, requires more than fitting a hearing aid and hoping for the best.

What is comprehensive hearing rehabilitation?

Hearing rehabilitation, also known as aural rehabilitation, is a structured approach to reducing the everyday impact of hearing loss.

It considers not only your hearing test, but also how hearing loss affects your communication, relationships, confidence, lifestyle and quality of life.

A comprehensive plan may include:

• Detailed hearing assessment and ear health examination
• Medical, hearing and communication history
• Discussion of tinnitus, dizziness, noise exposure or other related concerns
• Understanding your lifestyle, listening environments and priorities
• Setting realistic communication goals
• Independent advice about hearing aids, accessories or assistive listening technology
• Professional fitting, verification, programming and fine-tuning
• Education and counselling
• Family or carer involvement where helpful
• Communication strategies for difficult listening situations
• Auditory training where appropriate
• Ongoing monitoring, review and plan adjustments

This approach recognises that two people with similar hearing test results may need very different care.

One person may want to hear grandchildren more clearly. Another may be focused on business meetings, social events, music, television, phone calls or managing tinnitus. The most suitable plan depends on the person—not just the audiogram.

Why the first fitting is only the beginning

A hearing aid fitting is an important milestone, but it is not the finish line.

During the early stages of hearing-aid use, people need time, guidance and professional support. They may need help learning how to insert, remove, charge and clean their devices. They may need assistance connecting to a phone, television or accessories. They may also need gradual adjustments to achieve the right balance of clarity, comfort and natural sound.

Fine-tuning is not simply changing the volume.

It is a clinical process that considers how the hearing aids are performing in real life, how comfortable they feel, which situations remain difficult and how your hearing needs may change as you adapt.

For some people, loudness perception has changed after years of reduced hearing. Sounds that are normal may initially feel too loud or overwhelming. With appropriate programming, counselling and review, we can help guide the process of adaptation more comfortably and safely.

Communication strategies matter

Even the best hearing technology cannot remove every communication challenge.

Background noise, distance, fast speech, poor room acoustics, group conversations and competing voices can still make listening difficult. This is why communication strategies are an important part of rehabilitation.

These may include practical approaches such as:

• Choosing a quieter table in a café or restaurant
• Sitting where you can see the faces of other speakers
• Reducing background noise where possible
• Using remote microphones or accessories when appropriate
• Asking others to rephrase rather than simply repeat
• Taking listening breaks when fatigue builds
• Helping family members understand communication strategies that work

Small changes can make a meaningful difference to confidence and participation.

The role of family and communication partners

Hearing loss is rarely experienced by one person alone.

It can affect partners, relatives, friends, carers and colleagues. Family members may notice changes before the person with hearing loss does, or may be unsure how to help without causing frustration.

Where appropriate, involving a partner, family member or carer can be valuable. It allows everyone to understand the hearing challenges, expectations and practical communication strategies that can improve daily interactions.

Good hearing care is often shared care.

Ongoing follow-up is part of the treatment

Hearing needs can change over time.

Your hearing levels may change. Your work and social life may change. Your confidence may grow. You may begin using your hearing aids in more situations and identify new goals. Accessories, further adjustments or auditory training may become useful at different stages.

Regular reviews allow us to monitor:

• Hearing levels and ear health
• Hearing aid use and benefit
• Comfort, clarity and sound quality
• Speech understanding in real-life situations
• Progress toward your communication goals
• Motivation and confidence
• Changes needed to your treatment plan

This is why hearing care should be viewed as an ongoing professional relationship—not simply a one-time purchase.

Hearing aids are part of the plan. You are the centre of it.

At Ear & Hearing Australia, we are independent audiologists. We are not owned by a hearing aid manufacturer.

This allows us to focus on what is most appropriate for you: your hearing, lifestyle, communication needs, preferences and long-term goals.

When hearing aids are recommended, they are carefully selected, professionally fitted and supported as part of a broader rehabilitation plan.

Our aim is not just to help you hear more sound.

It is to help you communicate with greater confidence, stay connected to the people who matter and participate more fully in the life you enjoy.

Start your hearing rehabilitation journey

If hearing difficulties are making conversations tiring, social situations frustrating or daily life less enjoyable, a comprehensive hearing assessment can help identify the most appropriate next steps.

Book an appointment with one of our independent audiologists to begin a hearing care plan designed around you.

References

Boothroyd, A. (2007). Adult aural rehabilitation: What is it and does it work? Trends in Amplification, 11(2), 63–71.

Ferguson, M., Maidment, D., Henshaw, H., & Heffernan, E. (2019). Evidence-based interventions for adult aural rehabilitation. Seminars in Hearing, 40(4), 273–285.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). Clinical practice guideline: Aural rehabilitation for adults with hearing loss.

It might not be a surprise to those with hearing loss that research has shown hearing speech in noise is the number one challenge.[1] Just think of a busy restaurant or trying to have a conversation over the sound of the television. Traditional hearing aid devices understand sounds, but don’t always understand what you want to listen to. Oticon Intent™ https://earandhearing.com.au/hearing-aids-brands/oticon/oticon-intent/ is a new hearing aid designed to meet this challenge.

How can Oticon Intent understand you?

Our ears receive sound, but it’s our brain that gives sound meaning. That’s why Oticon develops hearing aids designed to support the brain, like Oticon Intent. In conversation, you might keep your head still to listen to just one person or move your head in a group conversation to engage with different people. When struggling to hear what someone is saying, you might lean in to listen. Oticon Intent combines these motions to understand what you want to listen to and give you personalised support for that situation.[2]

“…up to 20 hours of battery life”

Does it connect to my devices?

With next-generation Bluetooth® connectivity via Bluetooth LE Audio, Oticon Intent delivers easy connection for hands-free calls and direct streaming from compatible devices.[3]

Do I need batteries?

Oticon Intent is rechargeable and offers up to 20 hours of battery life, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery. You can also drop your hearing aids into the charger for 30 minutes for up to 8 hours of battery life.[4]

So, if you or a loved one are finding it difficult to hear in noise, or wear hearing aids but could use more support, it’s worth considering how new hearing aids like Oticon Intent can help. Call us on 1300-761-667 to find out how you can try Oticon Intent at Ear and Hearing Australia. 

1. Jorgensen, L., & Novak, M. (2020). Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Adoption. Seminars in hearing, 41(1), 6–20.
2. Bianchi/Eskelund et al. (2024). Oticon Intent™ – Clinical evidence. BrainHearing™ benefits of the 4D Sensor technology. Oticon whitepaper. Sponsored by Oticon. 4D Sensor technology only available in Oticon Intent 1 & 2.
3. Hands-free communication is available on select devices. See which hearing aids and devices are compatible here: oticon.com.au/compatibility.
4. Expected use time for rechargeable battery depends on use pattern, active feature set, hearing loss, sound environment, battery age and use of wireless accessories.

This product is not available for purchase by the general public without a consultation with a hearing healthcare professional. Availability, function, and benefit of technology, features and accessories can vary depending on hearing aid style and performance level selected.
Read more Oticon Intent Review.