SPCHSCI 733 : Audiology for Speech Language Therapy

Science

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Study of types of hearing impairment, pathologies of the hearing mechanism, tests and clinical procedures used in audiological evaluations and hearing instrumentation.

Course Overview

The course examines hearing for speech and language across the lifespan. The course is taught through a combination of lectures and labs at the Grafton Campus. Labs are designed to supplement lecture content and provide practical experience in audiological methods including pure tone, immittance and speech audiometry, hearing aid trouble shooting and auditory processing assessment. 

This course builds on previous learning in SPCHSCI 713 (Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Language Therapy) and is taught in conjunction with SPCHSCI 736 (Topics in Communication Disorders in Adults) that includes lectures and seminars on auditory processing vs. language disorders in adults.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: SPCHSCI 713 Restriction: SPCHSCI 732

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge of the acoustic characteristics of speech to describe the impact of hearing loss on speech perception and production. (Capability 1)
  2. Learn and use simple pure tone audiometry and tympanometry on adults. (Capability 1, 4 and 5)
  3. Describe and explain results of hearing screening and diagnostic audiology. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  4. Apply knowledge of different types of hearing loss to examine their impact within an ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) framework. (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
  5. Discuss issues in the diagnosis and management of hearing loss resulting from cochlear and retrocochlear pathology, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder and auditory processing disorder. (Capability 2 and 3)
  6. Describe hearing aid and cochlear implant technology and candidacy and habilitation/rehabilitation for children/adults using these technologies. (Capability 1)
  7. Describe intervention approaches for children and adults with permanent hearing loss.

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Practical: AudSim pure tone air conduction audiometry OSCE cases (electronically via Canvas) 10% Individual Coursework
Practical: Pure tone audiometry OSCE skills assessment (test in the lab) 10% Individual Test
Portfolio 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Practical: AudSim pure tone air conduction audiometry OSCE cases (electronically via Canvas)
Practical: Pure tone audiometry OSCE skills assessment (test in the lab)
Portfolio
Final Exam

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

This course is supported by the Tuākana in Science Programme, which facilitates the success and wellbeing of our Māori and Pacific students. The foundation of the Tuākana Programme is the Tuākana-Teina principle an integral relationship in which older or more expert Tuākana (traditionally brother, sister or cousin) guides a younger or less expert Teina (traditionally younger sibling or cousin). This is a reciprocal relationship which fosters safe learning and teaching environments. Read more here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Key Topics

  1. Behavioural assessment methods for testing pure tone hearing in children and adults
  2. Audiological assessment of speech perception – speech audiometry
  3. Otoscopy and pure tone audiometry
  4. Diagnostic audiology & differential diagnosis of different types of hearing loss
  5. Types of hearing loss: conductive, cochlear, mixed, retrocochlear, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder
  6. Immittance audiometry
  7. Hearing loss and ageing
  8. Speech/voice acoustics and analysis
  9. Aural rehabilitation including hearing aids and cochlear implants
  10. Hearing loss in children
  11. Speech and language in children with hearing loss
  12. Auditory processing disorder

Special Requirements

Students must complete practical work and pass the two OSCEs in order to complete the course.  

Students will need to be on Campus outside standard hours in order to complete audiological assessments for their audiometry portfolio.
Lab work will take place in the Building 507 Lower Ground Clinics area - students will need to comply with University of Auckland Clinics Health and Safety and Privacy guidelines whilst undertaking lab and practical work.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 2-hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or exam preparation. The workload is higher in weeks when students are conducting individual hearing assessments for their audiometry portfolio.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is required 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 not be available as recordings.
  • The course will include live online events, including group discussions/tutorials.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the 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.

  1. Fred H. Bess & Larry E. Humes, Audiology: The Fundamentals, Fourth edition 362 pages | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | 2008 | ISBN: 0781766435 
  2. Frederick N. Martin & John Greer Clark, Introduction to Audiology, 12th Edition | Allyn & Bacon Communication Sciences and Disorders 2014 | Enhanced Pearson eText packaged with a bound book, use ISBN 0133783723
  3. Lisa L. Cunningham & Debara L. Tucci, Hearing Loss in Adults. N Engl J Med 2017; 377:2465-2473. Available online December 21, 2017. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1616601
  4. Suzanne C Purdy & Mridula Sharma (2019). Auditory processing disorder. In J. Damico & M. Ball (Eds.) The SAGE encyclopedia of human communication sciences and disorders (pp. 229-231). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Inc, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483380810.n72
  5. Keith, W. J., Purdy, S. C., Baily, M. R., & Kay, F. M. (2019). New Zealand Guidelines on Auditory Processing Disorder. New Zealand Audiological Society. https://www.audiology.org.nz/ 

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course 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.

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

Student feedback indicates that they particularly enjoy the practical aspects of this course - we hope that in 2023, with COVID restrictions lifted, students will have more hands-on experience conducting audiometric assessments independently to build their skill and confidence.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

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.

Because the skills taught in this course represent essential competencies for speech language therapists, students should inform the Course Director or Course Co-ordinator if they are unable to attend or participate in any class or lab sessions.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2022 09:37 a.m.