Rehabilitation of Auditory Disorders

Learning Outcomes

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify and describe a wide range of different technologies (e.g. hearing aids, assistive devices, auditory implants), strategies (e.g. communication), skills (e.g. facilitation) and tools. (e.g. counselling and decision making tools) and other resources potentially available to the audiologist and patient to improve the patient’s hearing-related quality of life and explain their main pros and cons for common forms of hearing loss and psychosocial circumstance.
• Explain and critically analyse the arguments for, and the current consensus on, patient centred rehabilitation for adults with hearing loss, including the assessment and analysis of need, effects of psychosocial factors, the provision of accurate and balanced information regarding management options, the facilitation of the patient’s decision making (especially regarding technology) and the role of communication strategies and tactics.
• Explain the process of individualised hearing-aid fitting on the basis of audiometric and other information, including the selection of an ear-mould/shell with appropriate modifications, the verification of the technical performance and other functional properties of a hearing aid (both in a coupler and the real ear), the validation of the fitting and the provision of relevant instructions and information to the particular user.
• Demonstrate mastery of effective self-directed learning, scientific and patient-centred communication.
• Formulate evidence-based recommendations for the rehabilitation of individual patients with common forms of hearing loss and tinnitus based on critical evaluation of a range of sources of information including that shared by the patient and the research literature.

• Overview of adult auditory rehabilitation and hearing aid fitting.
• Understanding the impact of hearing loss in the context of the World Health Organisation.
• International Classification of Functioning and the biopsychosocial models of disability.
• Psychosocial impact of acquired hearing loss.
• Introduction to hearing aids and components.
• Specification and measurement of electroacoustic characteristics.
• Range of devices and features, advantages and limitations of different options, consideration of the evidence base where appropriate.
• Impressions, ear moulds, earshells and modifications.
• Hearing aid selection and fitting: candidacy, ergonomic considerations, selection of electroacoustic characteristics by prescription methods.
• Verification of hearing aid performance.
• Counselling skills in audiology, including enabling adjustment and change.
• Models of tinnitus distress.
• Tinnitus management approaches.
• Evaluation of auditory rehabilitation.
• Evaluation of tinnitus interventions.

Teaching methods include:

• Traditional classroom style lectures with audio recording of lectures linked to Powerpoint slides using lecture capture software
• Question and answer sessions
• Tutorials as and when required
• Interactive discussion of ethnographic clinical videos and of the IDA motivational and decisions making tools that can assist in the process of shared goal setting and decisions making with patients
• Open door policy by module co-ordinator
• Lectures supplemented by demonstrations in AUDI6011.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.