MSc/PGDip Advanced Audiology Studies

This unit gives an in-depth comprehensive overview of non-organic hearing loss, auditory processing disorder, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, hearing loss presenting with complex medical and developmental needs and progressive, sudden and late-onset hearing loss. The focus will be on understanding the clinical presentation, natural history, aetiopathological bases, co-morbidities and wider impact of these conditions as well as multidisciplinary investigations and treatment/management/ (re)habilitation and support.

The unit aims to enable you to analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply your knowledge, in order to identify aetiological and risk factors of hearing loss in non-organic hearing loss, processing disorder, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, hearing loss presenting with complex medical and developmental needs and progressive, sudden or late onset deafness; and select and interpret developmentally appropriate investigations and initiate optimum treatment, management, rehabilitation and support.

• Esteem lectures by leading experts in the field.
• Webinar.
• Directed and self-directed reading.
• Clinically-integrated learning: online case studies, reports and reflective log based on clinical practice.
• Discussion-based learning: online discussion boards and tutorials.
• Group/team-based learning: online wiki tasks, blunder cases.
• Enquiry-based learning: online small scale investigations.
• Experience-based learning: sharing parents' perspectives.

• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge aetiologies, co-morbidities, additional needs, typical clinical presentations, natural history and wider impact of hearing problems in special paediatric populations (children with non-organic hearing loss, processing disorder, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, presenting with complex medical and developmental needs and progressive, sudden or late onset deafness).
• Show systematic understanding of the maturation of the auditory system and typical and untypical child development.
• Show expert knowledge of developmentally appropriate assessments and investigations.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding multiagency team working and referrals.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of child safeguarding and local care pathways.

• Critically evaluate the research evidence pertaining to treatment, management, rehabilitation and external support agencies and policies in special paediatric populations.

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of current research and its application to the performance and mastery of a range of technical skills whilst critically reflecting and applying in practice a range of clinical and communication skills to advise and communicate effectively with children, their families or carers and other healthcare professionals.
• Take a detailed, accurate and sensitive history and perform a reliable audiovestibular examination as appropriate in the role of Consultant Clinical Scientist.
• Identify the importance of additional underlying factors on audiovestibular status.
• Undertake a focused clinical examination as appropriate in the role of Consultant Clinical Scientist.
• Select, perform and interpret the developmentally appropriate audiological tests that are required to assess the child.
• Implement appropriate intervention and management.
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team and refer appropriately for additional opinions.
• Assess correctly benefits and problems of intervention and communicate the advantages and disadvantages of these interventions to the child and parents or carers.
• Explain the nature of the problem, share sensitively the possible uncertainties and the results of the test to parents/ carers and child in a way so that they are able to understand the complexity of the problem.
• Reflect on the challenges of applying research to practice in relation to these areas of practice and suggest improvements, building on a critique of available evidence.

• Critically reflect on your own response to both normal and complex situations demonstrating the professional attributes and insights required working within the limits of professional competence referring as appropriate to senior staff.
• Recognise the importance of the history to diagnosis.
• Recognise the importance of accurate electrophysiological testing in making a diagnosis.
• Recognise the importance of a team approach and involvement of other professionals in the assessment and management.
• Recognise the importance of psychosocial aspects.
• Recognise the value of identification of hearing loss as an additional difficulty.
• Behave empathetically towards the child and parents/carers.
• Be committed to and support continuous improvement of therapeutic services, with particular reference to auditing practice, evidence based practice, innovative new and improved technologies.

Written feedback.

Clarke, R. 2008. Part 12: Paediatric otorhinolaryngology. In: Gleeson, M. et al. Scott-Brown’s Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Vol. 1). 7th ed. London: Hodder Arnold.