Students

SPHL2212 – Introduction to Audiology

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Sriram Boothalingam
sriram.boothalingam@mq.edu.au
Felicity Cox
felicity.cox@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
10cp in LING or SPHL at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit aims to provide an introduction to audiological theory and practice. Topics include: fundamental concepts in aural anatomy and physiology; and an introduction to auditory disorders. Several areas of audiological practice are introduced, including; basic hearing assessment, paediatric audiology, and basic rehabilitative issues and procedures.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Develop and demonstrate knowledge about the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others.
  • ULO2: Develop and demonstrate a basic understanding of frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • ULO3: Review the components of routine hearing assessment and build a basic understanding of their use in the identification of normal and pathological results.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate an understanding of the clinical utility of some common evoked potential tests. Describe the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • ULO5: Display a fundamental knowledge of the different aspects of hearing rehabilitation and the strategies and devices available to an audiologist for both adults and children.
  • ULO6: Describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations and discuss which factors are important for assessing implant candidacy.
  • ULO7: Discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats.
  • ULO8: Describe the fundamentals of the balance system and its assessment by the audiologist.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Exam 40% No Exam Period
Clinical encounter assessment 25% No Early May
Sound Analysis Portfolio 35% No March through April

Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

 

The final exam will take place within the university examination period. Details of the exam structure will be provided in class.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop and demonstrate knowledge about the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others.
  • Develop and demonstrate a basic understanding of frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • Review the components of routine hearing assessment and build a basic understanding of their use in the identification of normal and pathological results.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the clinical utility of some common evoked potential tests. Describe the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • Display a fundamental knowledge of the different aspects of hearing rehabilitation and the strategies and devices available to an audiologist for both adults and children.
  • Describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations and discuss which factors are important for assessing implant candidacy.
  • Discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats.
  • Describe the fundamentals of the balance system and its assessment by the audiologist.

Clinical encounter assessment

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Early May
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will watch videos of clinical encounters with children and describe the procedures that they observe. Appropriate referencing is expected. The report should be no longer than 1500 words.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Review the components of routine hearing assessment and build a basic understanding of their use in the identification of normal and pathological results.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the clinical utility of some common evoked potential tests. Describe the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • Display a fundamental knowledge of the different aspects of hearing rehabilitation and the strategies and devices available to an audiologist for both adults and children.
  • Describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations and discuss which factors are important for assessing implant candidacy.
  • Discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats.

Sound Analysis Portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: March through April
Weighting: 35%

 

The Sound Analysis Portfolio consists of a collection of evidence demonstrating student performance on a set of tasks that require an understanding of sound, its characteristics, and measurement, and the fundamentals of hearing. Students will apply this knowledge in the analyses of real sounds to demonstrate insights into the acoustic properties of hearing, balance, and audiology.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop and demonstrate knowledge about the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others.
  • Develop and demonstrate a basic understanding of frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • Review the components of routine hearing assessment and build a basic understanding of their use in the identification of normal and pathological results.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the clinical utility of some common evoked potential tests. Describe the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • Display a fundamental knowledge of the different aspects of hearing rehabilitation and the strategies and devices available to an audiologist for both adults and children.
  • Describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations and discuss which factors are important for assessing implant candidacy.
  • Describe the fundamentals of the balance system and its assessment by the audiologist.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classroom lectures and demonstrations.

Please see Leganto for reading materials (on iLearn) and recommended textbooks.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook