Beyond the ear: Central auditory plasticity

There is a current surge of interest in understanding central auditory plasticity and how these principles relate to aural rehabilitation and to learning in general. Knowing more about the science underlying rehabilitation might advance the way scientists and clinicians approach rehabilitation. For this reason we review basic principles of central auditory plasticity and how these principles are being applied to study populations with auditory-based communication disorders. Specifically, we discuss how principles of plasticity relate to aural rehabilitation. Therefore, the effects of auditory deprivation and auditory stimulation on central auditory mechanisms are reviewed.