Dream Therapy for the Hearing Impaired

Dreaming is an integral part of our sleep patterns and promotes well being. When dreams are pleasant, we can often connect in some subconscious way and expand our personal growth and development.

For hearing impaired adults, the loss of hearing often results in a heightened state of arousal for other sense. Because dreaming often incorporates not only sound but also vision and even smell and taste, the hearing impaired individual may experience a far different health outcome when exposed to dreams naturally or when engaging in dream therapy.

When dealing with mental health complications, adults with all sensory function are turning to an innovative approach to healing that involves dream therapy. For hearing impaired adults, the use of dream therapy is possible but must be modified to the specific needs of the hearing impaired client.

What is interesting about dreaming and the dream therapy for the hearing impaired involves the depth and degree of communication within the dream state. In fact, when questioned further, many hearing impaired adults will describe their experiences with communication in dream state as somewhat similar to their communication when awake. That is to say, when awake, if the hearing impaired adult uses sign language in communication with others, the sign language is most often the type of communication used in dreams.

The question then becomes how and if the hearing impaired individuals can decipher sound within the mind, as in the dream state. While there is much debate over the ability to hear internal sound, many therapists agree it is possible. However, the degree to which that communication occurs, internally, will depend on the level of communication and speech the hearing impaired individual was exposed to prior to losing the ability to hear.

Dream therapy is becoming a more common component of innovate therapy programs. While there is some degree of communication required in dream therapy, many individuals communicate prior to sleep and then utilize dream therapy methods in seclusion.