ObjectivesThe first year of the course provides the basic scientific background for audiology and an introduction to clinical work. The second year provides comprehensive training in all aspects of clinical audiology along with an introduction to research methods in the field.
Practical experienceStudents will be scheduled for approximately 200 hours of supervised clinical work during the two-year course. Students are scheduled for hours at our clinical school and at various hearing care facilities across Victoria.
Academic titleMaster of Clinical Audiology
Course descriptionMaster of Clinical Audiology (First Year)
Acoustics
Coordinator: Mr Dominic Power
Content: Physics of sound and sound transmission. 19 hours of lectures plus one three-hour practical session in semester 1.
Anatomy and Physiology
Coordinator: Ms Angela Marshall
Content: Anatomy and physiology of the peripheral and central auditory systems, and aspects of balance function and speech production. 21 hours of lectures in semester 1.
Perception of Sound and Speech
Coordinator: Professor Richard C Dowell
Content: Psychoacoustics, psychophysical measurement, acoustic phonetics, and their relation to audiological practice. 28 hours of lectures in semester 1.
Pathologies of the Auditory System
Coordinator: Dr Elizabeth Rose
Content: Disorders of the ear and auditory system, the effects on hearing of these disorders and their management and treatment. 17 hours of lectures and four hours of attendance at ENT outpatients in semester 1.
Paediatric Audiology A
Coordinator: Ms Dani Tomlin
Content: This subject comprises the following topics: normal physical, social, auditory, communicative, and speech and language development in infants and children; impact of early illness on development; risk factors for hearing loss, neonatology, genetics, and genetics of hearing impairment; taking a paediatric clinical history, clinical procedures for behaviourally assessing the type and degree of hearing impairment present in infants and young children, and their ability to understand speech. 43 hours of lectures plus 50 hours of clinical observation and practice.
Clinical Audiology A
Coordinator: Ms Angela Marshall
Content: History taking, pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry, masking techniques, speech audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, clinical communication skills, non-organic hearing loss, site of lesion testing, clinical decision analysis, assessment of central auditory function, and theory and practice of diagnostic audiological techniques. 80 hours of lectures, practical sessions and tutorials, plus 40 hours of clinics throughout the year.
Hearing Devices and Rehabilitation A
Coordinator: Ms Cathryn Williams and Ms Angela Marshall
Content: The design and operation of hearing aids and prescriptive fitting techniques. Assessment and management of the psychological and social problems experienced by hearing impaired adults. 80 hours of lectures and practical sessions, plus 40 hours of clinics throughout the year.
Electrophysiological Assessment A
Coordinator: Ms Angela Marshall
Content: Basic concepts of bioengineering and signal processing. Introduction to the measurement of auditory evoked potentials and their analysis. 30 contact hours in semester 2.
Master of Clinical Audiology (second year)
Research Methods in Hearing Science
Coordinator: Ms Joanne Enticott
Content: Introduction to statistical and research techniques for application to speech and hearing science. Scientific writing and presentation skills. 24 hours of lectures and practical sessions in semester 1.
Electrophysiological Assessment B
Coordinator: Assoc. Prof Gary Rance
Content: Advanced concepts in the measurement of auditory evoked potentials and electrophysiologic measures of balance function. Practical work demonstrating assessment procedures. 26 contact hours in semester 1.
Hearing Devices and Rehabilitation B
Coordinator: Ms Cathryn Williams
Content: Advanced concepts in amplification for hearing impairment including digital and signal processing hearing aids. Practical work and hearing aid clinics. 35 contact hours plus 15 hours of supervised clinical work throughout the year.
Paediatric Audiology B
Coordinator: Assoc. Prof Gary Rance
Content: This subject comprises the following topics: Advanced paediatric testing techniques; educational and communication issues for hearing impaired children; assessment and management of children with special needs; assessment and management of hearing impaired neonates & infants. Supervised clinical experience will be obtained in the diagnosis and management of hearing disorders in children of all ages. 32 contact hours plus 50 hours supervised clinical work.
Clinical Audiology B
Coordinator: Ms Angela Marshall
Content: Review of audiological integration and management, audiology and indigenous Australians, industrial audiology, acoustic shock, professionalism, ethics and advanced clinical communication in clinical audiology practice, supervised clinical work in the assessment and management of hearing and balance disorders in the adult population. 42 hours of lectures, problem-based learning case studies and practical sessions, plus 80 hours of clinics throughout the year.
Cochlear Implants
Coordinator: Professor Richard C Dowell
Content: The audiological management of severe and profound hearing loss using cochlear implant technology. 26 hours of lectures, 6 hours of problem-based learning case studies and 8 hours of clinics in semester 2.
Independent Studies in Audiology
Coordinators: Professor Richard C Dowell and Assoc. Prof Gary Rance
Content: Each student will undertake a research project under the direction of an academic staff member, or a specialised clinical audiology assignment. All students will undertake some supervised clinical work. The number of hours will vary depending on the nature of the project. All students are expected to spend at least 20 hours per week on their project during the semester.