Audiology Courses

We have revised our curriculum for September 2011. Some courses may not be exactly as shown below.

Certain undergraduate CSD courses are being offered to all students of Western. CSD 4417; CSD 4411; CSD 4439

Audiology Course Summaries

YEAR 1

FOUNDATION COURSES

CSD 9510y - Principles of Clinical Audiometry Fall & Winter Course Syllabus

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course will focus on the principles of pediatric and adult audiometric assessment and interpretation of the test results, with an emphasis on detection of hearing loss and determining the site of lesion (differential diagnosis).

CSD 9512a - Acoustics, Perception, & the Auditory System Fall Course Syllabus

Focus Area: Hearing Science, Physiology, Disorders

This course provides an introductory background for understanding sound, its propagation, and the acoustics of rooms and the external ear. Signal filtering and representaitons in time and frequency domains will be introduced. Anatomy of the ear and auditory nervous system will be covered, as well as the function of these systems in the processing of sound. Perception and psychophysics, as well as sound localization will also be studied.

CSD 9513a - Electronics and Instrumentation Fall Course Syllabus

Focus Area: Hearing Technologies

This course will cover fundamentals of electricity, electronics, and, digital signal processing within the context of audiological instrumentation (sound level meters, audiometers, OAE equipment, tympanometers, hearing aid analysers). Students will also learn to calibrate and troubleshoot audiological instrumentation.

CSD 9615a - Speech Science: Anatomy,Acoustics & Speech Perception for Audiology Fall Course Syllabus

Focus Area: SLP Minor Area

The course will cover theory and applications in vocal tract physiology, speech acoustics, and speech perception and application to understanding and assessing communication disorders.

CSD 9516b - Auditory Evoked Potentials and Emissions Winter

Focus Area: Hearing Science, Physiology, Disorders

This course will cover foundational knowledge for objective physiological measurement of the auditory system using auditory evoked potentials and otoacoustic emissions. Basics common to these measurements will be treated including introductory signal processing (filtering, averaging, time domain and spectral analysis), and the types of acoustic stimuli and their calibration.

CSD 9515b - SLP for Audiology Winter

Focus Area: SLP Minor Area

Exploration of phonological, lexical syntactic-morphological, and pragmatic aspects of human communication associated with speech, language, hearing, and related disorders, normal processes of speech and language comprehension and production over the life span.

CSD 9518b - Foundations of Assistive Hearing Technologies Winter

Focus Area: Hearing Technologies

This course will orient students to hearing technologies that assist persons with hearing impairment (hearing aids, assistive listening and alerting devices, implantable technologies). Training in digital signal processing will introduce functions within modern hearing aids. Hands-on training will cover procedures for prescribing and verifying and troubleshooting hearing aids in adults.

THEORY TO PRACTICE COURSES: YEAR 1

CSD 9511y - Applications in Audiometry Fall & Winter Course Syllabus

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course will cover clinical audiological procedures and interpretation used in the assessment of hearing impairment across the lifespan, and promotes the transition from theory-to-practice. In the Fall semester, the emphasis is on the detection of hearing loss using clinical procedures designed for the adult population, and an introduction to use of the basic audiological test battery for determining the site of lesion (differential diagnosis). In the Winter semester, the emphasis will be on modifications to clinical protocols for special populations, and advanced test protocols. Limitations of the basic, detection oriented battery will also be reviewed. Students will learn through a variety of formats that support knowledge integration and application, including clinical case examples, role-playing, demonstration and hands-on experience with clinical equipment and protocols.

CSD 9520 a - Professional Practice I Fall Course Syllabus

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This is an introductory course in professional and clinical development in the field of audiology. It will include a basic introduction to many of the provincial, federal, professional and regulatory body acts and preferred practice guidelines that define professional behavior in audiology. It will relate these acts to the development of a personal and family-centred philosophy of practice across patient lifespan, and disease process, keeping in mind cultural sensitivities. Format will consist of lectures, potential on line self study units, clinical observation and integration of cases into the classroom setting.

CSD 9517b - Physiological Measurement Winter

Focus Area: Hearing Science, Physiology, Disorders

This course will cover practical use of physiological measurements of the auditory system. This will include otoacoustic emissions and auditory evoked potentials elicited from different levels of the auditory nervous system. Measurement setup, data collection, data interpretation, and report writing will be performed.

CSD 9522b - Professional Practice II Winter

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course provides students with an introduction to basic clinical principles and clinical practice in Audiology. It will focus on the development of professional skills and introductory clinical principles associated with audiological practice. Topics would include infection control, report writing, cerumen management, earmould impressions, an introduction behavioral assessment of children, basic amplification procedures, and Ontario Infant Hearing Program Protocols. Patient-focused clinical care will also be addressed through discussion and reflection of clinical cases encountered during clinical practicum experiences. Participation in the patient case rounds and manufacturers presentations will facilitate the transition from theory-to-practice (students join the Professional Practice IV case/manufacturer rounds for this component of the course)

AUDIOLOGY PRACTICUM SERIES: YEAR 1

CSD 9501b - Audiology Practicum I Winter

First-year students will practice and improve their basic clinical assessment skills during this in-house placement. The goals of this in-house placement in HA Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic placement are for Year 1 students to develop their basic audiological assessment skills and counselling abilities and to reinforce theory-to-practice drawing from concepts covered in concurrent and prerequisite course work.

CSD 9502L - Audiology Practicum II Summer

First-year students will be placed at clinical practicum sites within Canada. The external placement is the first-year students’ first experience with a full-time audiological placement. The placement will last approximately 8 weeks and include 30-40 hours of practicum per week. The external placement is intensive and allows the first-year student the opportunity to fine-tune their assessment skills or develop and improve their skills in other aspects of audiology. The nature and extent of professional skill development will depend on the clinical assessment and treatment philosophy of the practicum site.

MODULES: YEAR 1

CSD 9519L - Module Noise 1 Intersession (April or May)

In this module, the effects of noise, both auditory and non-auditory, will be reviewed and the mechanisms and clinical features of noise-induced hearing loss will be introduced. Occupational noise exposure legislation and conservation programs, both occupational and non-occupational, will be covered in detail.

CSD 9529L - Module Instrumentation and Calibration Summer

In this module, students will acquire advanced skills through practical activities using various types of instrumentation and performing calibration. Experiential learning using sound level meters and through the calibration of audiometers, immitance, otoacoustic emissions and real ear measurement equipment will be achieved in this final applications course, completed in the Starkey Laboratory at UWO.

YEAR 2

FOUNDATION COURSES: YEAR 2

Pediatric Hearing Disorders: Development and Assessment Fall

Focus Area: Hearing Science, Physiology, Disorders

This course will provide knowledge of the normal and disordered development of both hearing and the auditory pathways, as a scientific foundation for modern assessment procedures in pediatric audiology. The impact of teratogenic, congenital, and/or genetic anomalies on the normal development of the hearing system will be introduced. Protocols for clinical pediatric assessment will be taught in specific areas including high frequency tympanometry, and assessment of Auditory Processing Disorder and Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. Case studies will be used to build emerging competence in integrating results across a test battery.

Modern Practices in Assistive Hearing Technologies II Fall

Focus Area: Hearing Technologies

This course will support advanced clinical practice in prescribing and verifying hearing aids, with an emphasis on evidence-based use of procedures and technologies. Advanced knowledge of the scientific foundations underlying current clinical practice will be supported and expected. Reading and discussion of evidence and modern protocols will critically evaluate advanced procedures in real ear measurement, prescription, electroacoustic evaluation of dsp, and outcome measurement.

Modern Practices in Assistive Hearing Technologies I : (Implantable Devices) Winter

Focus Area: Hearing Technologies

This course will cover core knowledge of physiology, psychophysics, technology, and clinical practice implantable hearing technologies, with a focus on cochlear implants. [add detail as needed] The course combines lectures, psychophysical and practical laboratory activities, and clinical observation.

Adult Hearing Disorders Winter

Focus Area: Hearing Science, Physiology, Disorders

This course will approach hearing disorders from a broad perspective, beginning with pathophysiology and etiology and encompassing medical and audiological approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The focus will be on the adult population.

THEORY TO PRACTICE COURSES: YEAR 2

Counseling Fall

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course will provide an in-depth overview of foundations of counseling for adults and children with communication, hearing, vestibular and tinnitus disorders and their families. Counseling approaches designed to maximize a patient's ability to understand, adapt and cope with a communication disorder will be learned through clinical observations, demonstrations, clinical case studies, and role-playing.

Aural (Re)Habilitation:Theory-to-Practice Fall & Winter

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course focuses on the theory, practice and issues related to the provision of aural rehabilitative (AR) services to deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing individuals of all ages. The role of the audiologist in the provision of these services, and in partnership with other health professions, and consumer-based organizations will be explored. Students will transition from theory to practice through observation and participation in a variety of practical experiences for different age groups. Practical experiences may include in-house and external placements in settings that include: adult group aural rehabilitation programs (speech reading, communication strategies and management, school board placements for high school (Montcalm) and elementary school age children (including Hear Together and Discovery Day, work with school board audiologist and possibly itinerant teachers, Fairmont), cochlear implant program, Canadian Hearing Society, Infant Hearing Program, other community programs (Lean on Me, Gray Matters, Centre for Activity and Aging)

Applications in Assistive Hearing Technologies II Fall

Focus Area: Hearing Technologies

This course will support advanced clinical practice in prescribing and verifying hearing aids, with an emphasis on evidence-based use of procedures and technologies. This course will train advanced practice procedures in hearing aid prescription, technology selection, and technology evaluation, and dispensing, with a focus on practice with the pediatric population and advanced technologies. Hands on activities with simulated patients, clinical observation with reflection, portfolio building, and training on administrative procedures (forms, protocols) will build practical skills in these areas of practice.

Professional Practice III Fall

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course will make use of experiential learning strategies (e.g., case studies, observation, reflective practice, resource portfolios) to build competence in protocol knowledge, integration of information, clinical decision analysis, developing recommendations, presentation of information, and professionalism in the context of service delivery. Students will present adult and pediatric clinical cases for discussion, analysis and reflection. Hearing instrument, assistive technology and instrumentation manufacturers will present to inform students of current products and technologies relevant to the practice of audiology.

Professional Practice IV Winter

Focus Area: Clinical-Professional

This course will make use of experiential learning strategies (e.g., lectures, seminars, guest lecturers, case studies, observation, reflective practice, resource portfolios) to build competence in protocol knowledge, integration of information, and professionalism in the context of service delivery.

AUDIOLOGY PRACTICUM SERIES: YEAR 2

Audiology Practicum III Fall

Second-year students will be supervised by clinical faculty members in the HA Leeper Speech and Hearing clinic. Second-year students will be exposed to a wider variety of appointments across the age span, including, but not limited to: IHP assessments/fittings/follow-ups, CAP assessments, amplification assessments/fittings/follow-ups, FM assessments/fittings/follow-ups, tinnitus assessments, and paediatric (non-IHP) assessments. This placement will provide second-year students the opportunity to broaden their clinical experience and expertise.

Audiology Practicum IV Winter

Second-year students will have the option of being placed in the HA Leeper Speech and Hearing clinic or an off-campus site. Students will be provided the ability to function autonomously in a wider variety of appointments, including, but not limited to: CAP assessments, amplification assessments/fittings/follow-ups, FM assessments/fittings/follow-ups, tinnitus assessments, and paediatric (non-IHP) assessments. Improvement in technique and continued growth in clinical skills and knowledge will be expected; second-year students should be working more independently and functioning in a more autonomous capacity with minimal supervision. This placement will provide clinical faculty supervisors the opportunity to work more closely with those students that need additional training or support.

Audiology Practicum V Summer

Second-year students will be placed at clinical practicum sites within Canada. The external placement is the second-year students’ second experience with a full-time audiological placement. The placement will last approximately 8-12 weeks and include 30-40 hours of practicum per week. The final external placement is intensive and allows the second-year student the opportunity to fine-tune their assessment skills, and achieve competence for entry to clinical practice.

MODULES: YEAR 2

Advanced Modules (3-4 different modules-rotating)

Focus Area: Various

Course Descriptions: - TBD

Module Noise 2 Intersession (April or May)

In this module, the focus is on theory-to-practice and covers issues related to noise in occupational and non-occupational settings, including educational facilities. Noise control, noise exposure measurement, hearing loss prevention through personal hearing protection, and room acoustics including noise issues related to the educational setting will be covered. Public education programs relating to noise will also be incorporated into this learning experience.