AUDIOL 715 : Physics and Acoustics for Audiology

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The basic physics of sound; and instrumentation and the principles of digital signal processing involved in audiological research. Topics include: the physics of sound waves, room acoustics, the measurement of reverberation time; the nature of acoustic impedance; the nature of filters and amplifiers, acoustics of speech, calibration.

Course Overview

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of key concepts in physics that are relevant to audiological practice, including resonance and impedance. A strong emphasis will be placed on conceptual representation, translated into both graphical and mathematical representations. The sessions will be highly interactive and will include practical class activities to support learning.  

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator
Dr Gavin Coad
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: g.coad@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 9 923 9909

Course Administrator
Mrs Upendra Wickramarachchi
Group Services Administrator
Email: u.wicks@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Graduate Profile: Master of Audiology

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the nature of first and second order systems based on the frequency response of the system (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Analyse and describe complex waveforms and the nature of resonance (Capability 3.1)
  3. Describe the role of each of the components that make up audio systems and explain how they work together to modify sound (Capability 3.1 and 6.1)
  4. Quantify sound based on pressure, intensity and power using both linear and logarithmic scales (Capability 3.1 and 6.1)
  5. Analyse the nature of sound propagation and implications for room acoustics (Capability 3.1 and 6.1)
  6. Calculate noise dose for both occupational and recreation settings and understand the implications of the 'equal energy hypothesis' (Capability 2.2, 3.1, 4.2 and 5.2)
  7. Describe acoustic features of speech- vowels and consonants in isolation and connected discourse. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 5.1 and 5.2)
  8. Describe and explain why speech acoustics are important for signal processing of hearing aids and cochlear implants (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  9. Describe the role of sampling, signal averaging and filtering in the digital signal processing of sound. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  10. Demonstrate an understanding of the stimuli used in the acquisition of auditory evoked potentials and methods to improve the signal to noise ratio. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Mid-Semester Test 20% Individual Test
Practical Exercise 18% Group & Individual Coursework
Quizzes and Practicals 12% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mid-Semester Test
Practical Exercise
Quizzes and Practicals
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course. Students are expected to spend approximately 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect about 2 hours of interactive lectures with short problem-solving sessions interwoven, 4 hours of reading and revision of the content outside of class time, and 4 hours of work on assignments and  test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The instructions for the practical assignment have been improved, feedback from the students suggested they were confused about some aspects of the assignment.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.