Students

SPH 309 – Introduction to Audiology

2013 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Cath McMahon
Contact via cath.mcmahon@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp in LING units at 200 level including (LING210(P) or LING217(P))
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit aims to provide a broad overview of audiological theory and practice, and is directed particularly at students interested in postgraduate study in audiology. Background issues covered include: aural anatomy and physiology; and auditory disorders. Several areas of audiological practice are introduced, including basic hearing assessment; paediatric audiology; and 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:

  • understand the profession of Audiology within the Australian Health Care Context
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
On-line quiz 15% 1st April 2013 No
Clinical Encounter 20% Friday April 26th, 2013 No
Essay 25% Friday 17th May 2013 No
Exam 40% To be announced No

On-line quiz

Due: 1st April 2013
Weighting: 15%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

The class test will be taken on-line and will be made available to you from Friday 29thMarch at 9am to Tuesday the 1st April at 5pm. You will be allowed to log on once during that time to complete the quiz. Please note that the test will be timed. You will have 2 hours in which to complete the quiz. No group work or discussions of test content are allowed during the taking of the quiz. Transgression will result in a 0% mark for the quiz.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.

Clinical Encounter

Due: Friday April 26th, 2013
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

Students will observe 2 videos of clinical encounters and will be asked to comment on the test strategies that they see. Details will be provided in class.

a) Briefly describe the testing you observed on the video, including characteristics of the child and any other information you observed. (5 marks)

b) What are the tests you observed? Describe the population they are best suited to and their clinical usefulness (5 marks)

c) What are the strengths and weaknesses of these tests? (5 marks)

d) Given the weaknesses inherent in behavioural testing, provide justification as to why it should be used in clinical practice to assess hearing. (10 marks)

The report should be clear, concise and adhere to the word limit. (5 marks)The report should be no longer than 1500 words. You are encouraged to use headings and point form. Appropriate referencing is expected.

 

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • understand the profession of Audiology within the Australian Health Care Context
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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

Essay

Due: Friday 17th May 2013
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

Each student will have a choice of one of the four topics below. Write an essay describing and contrasting different viewpoints on your selected topic. Illustrative examples are encouraged. The topic will require some research. Please adhere to appropriate referencing. Each essay will be assessed on its content, level of academic writing, originality and coherence. 

Topic 1 Children born with a severe-profound hearing loss be fitted with bilateral cochlear implants as early as possible. Discuss.

Topic 2 Normal hearing in one ear is sufficient for normal speech and language development, and it is not useful to diagnose unilateral hearing loss at birth as there is little than can be done to assess the impact of this loss until a child is old enough to describe more complex listening situations. Discuss.

Topic 3 Manufacturers rather than individuals should be responsible for any hearing loss resulting from a device that produces dangerous amounts of sound to the person using it. Discuss this topic with consideration of children’s toys, personal music devices, loud sounds in public venues and loud sounds in the work place.

Topic 4 Vincent van Gogh tried cutting off his ear due to tinnitus. Why is this, and sectioning of the auditory nerve, NOT considered an effective treatment today? What are some of the alternatives that are available today to people with chronic tinnitus?

Please note that these topics are not fully addressed in lectures. Please adhere to the criteria listed in the section: Submission of work regarding citation, referencing and plagiarism. Please note that the reference list should include books, articles as well as web-site sources. Penalties will be incurred for excessive use of web-sourced material. The essay should be no more than 2500 words (excluding references) single spaced 12 point.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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

Exam

Due: To be announced
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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

Delivery and Resources

This unit will be delivered through lectures only.

Learning and Teaching Activities

Audiology as a Profession

This lecture will introduce students to the scope of Audiological practice and Audiology in the context of the Australian Health Care system.

Psychosocial Effects of Hearing Loss

Social and psychosocial aspects of hearing loss will be discussed for both congenital and acquired hearing losses. A medical vs a cultural model of Deafness will be discussed.

The Auditory System: Form & Function

The basic anatomy of the ear will be presented.

Pathologies of the Auditory System

Common pathologies of the outer, middle and inner ear and the effects these pathologies have on hearing will be discussed.

Audiometric Test Battery & Interpretation of Results

The standard Audiometric test battery will be presented (Pure Tone Audiometry, Impedance, and Speech Audiometry). This lecture will include results interpretation exercises.

Advanced Strategies in Hearing Assessment

Electrophysiological tests of hearing (Otoacoustic emissions testing and Auditory Brainstem Response testing) will be presented. Strengths and limitations will be discussed.

Rehabilitation of the Hearing Impaired: Overview of Rehabilitation Models

Aspects of hearing rehabilitation will be presented.

Hearing Instruments and Cochlear Implants

This lecture will explain how hearing aids and cochlear implants work and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations

Introduction to Balance Assessment

The fundamental components of the balance system and tests of balance function will be presented.

Assessment & Management of Hearing Loss in Children

Test strategies and issues in management of hearing loss in the paediatric population will be discussed.

Audiology in Developing Countries

An overview of how audiology has been established in developing countries will be presented.

Current Research in Audiology and Auditory Function

An overview of the current research being conducted at Macquarie University in Audiology is presented.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • understand the profession of Audiology within the Australian Health Care Context
  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • describe the effects of a hearing loss in children and adults and the impact it can have on significant others
  • describe frequently occurring disorders in adults and children that underlie hearing disorders and their effect on the auditory pathway
  • discuss the nature of hearing impairment and the audiological representations thereof.
  • discuss the basic components of routine hearing assessment in the identification of normal as well as conductive, sensory/neural and central lesions on the basis of audiometric results.
  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • describe the different types of advanced testing strategies (evoked potentials) used in assessing auditory function and which part of the auditory system is assessed by each test. Discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests and their practical application in different populations.
  • describe how a hearing aid and cochlear implant works and the benefits and limitations of each in different listening situations. 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
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats
  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • understand the profession of Audiology within the Australian Health Care Context
  • discuss the role of counselling in aural rehabilitation and how audiological rehabilitation is provided in various contexts and formats

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • discuss the current research trends in Audiology and auditory function