BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)

This unit covers the clinical principles and theoretical basis behind a range of Audiological assessment procedures, including a basic understanding of the principles of vestibular assessment. 

To provide students with the foundations of the scientific and theoretical bases of adult hearing loss, and balance disorders (related to hearing loss) and their clinical assessment and management. 

• Otoscopy. 
• Tuning fork tests. 
• Applied anatomy & physiology. 
• Pure tone audiometry - air and bone conduction. 
• Masking in pure tone audiometry. 
• Tympanometry and stapedius reflex measurements. 
• Diagnostic audiometric tests. 
• Clinical applications of evoked response audiometry. 
• Common disorders of the external/middle ear. 
• Tinnitus. 
• Cochlear and retro-cochlear pathology. 
• Non-organic hearing loss. 
• Special populations. 
• Genetics / Noise induced hearing loss. 
• Basic functioning and assessment of the vestibular system. 
• Standards & Calibration. 

Lectures, demonstration, practical and self-learning.

• Explain the fundamental principles of audiological assessment and demonstrate their application. 
• Explain the principle causes and pathophysiology of adult hearing loss. 
• Clinical assessment of auditory function, appropriate selection of test strategy, test 
  procedures and interpretation of results according to recommended clinical procedures including BSA/BAA recommended procedures. Test procedures include: tuning fork tests; pure tone audiometry; uncomfortable loudness levels; Stenger test; acoustic admittance tests; speech audiometry; otoacoustic emissions and evoked response audiometry. 
• Describe the basic physiology and principles of normal balance function including the common causes of balance disorders. 
• Describe the routine tests used in assessing balance disorder including: methods of monitoring eye movement during vestibular testing, including electronystagmography and video nystagmography; oculomotor testing; static and dynamic position testing; caloric testing; and basic 'bedside' testing and 'office' testing. 
• Describe the range and scope of national and international standards relevant to physiological measurements. 
• Describe the basic principles of calibration associated with physiological and psychophysical measurements. 
   

• Make use of current research by evaluating it and applying it to clinical practice. 
• Critical thinking and analysis. 
• Enhancement of evaluative and interpretive skills. 
• Develop team-working skills. 
• Develop the ability to think critically and question received information. 

• Enhancement of presentational skills. 
• Enhancement of writing skills. 

• The ability to work as a team as well as independently. 
• Use of Canvas to enhance learning. 

Example essay questions, group presentations/PBL/Tutorials
Semester 1 mid-point exam (1.5 hours) - 30%
Semester 2 end-point exam (1.5 hours) - 30%
Semester 2 assignment (2000 words) - 40%

Formative feedback on outline exam question answers, group presentations/PBL sessions and on exam and assignments.

• Katz J. Handbook of Clinical Audiology. Seventh edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014. http://read.kortext.com
• Stach BA. Clinical Audiology : An Introduction. 3rd edition. (Ramachandran Virginia, ed.). Plural Publishing Incorporated; 2017.
• DeRuiter M. Basic Audiometry Learning Manual . Second edition. (Ramachandran V, ed.). Plural Publishing Inc; 2017.
• RCCP Website. http://www.rccp.co.uk/
• Gelfand SA. Essentials of Audiology . (Calandruccio L, ed.). Thieme; 2023.
• Gelfand SA. Essentials of Audiology. Fifth edition /. (Calandruccio L, Gelfand SA, eds.). Thieme; 2022.
• Bess FH, Humes LE. Audiology: The Fundamentals. 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
• Graham JM, Baguley D, eds. Ballantyne’s Deafness /. 7th ed. Wiley-Blackwell,; 2009.
• Lawson G, Peterson M. Speech Audiometry. Vol Core clinical concepts in audiology. Plural; 2011.
• BSA Recommended Procedure Pure-Tone Air-Conduction and Bone-Conduction Threshold Audiometry with and without Masking. http://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Recommended-Procedure-Pure-Tone-Audiometry-August-2018-V2.pdf
• British Academy Of Audiology - BAA | British Academy of Audiology. http://www.baaudiology.org/
• Jack Katz. Handbook of Clinical Audiology (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)). 6Rev Ed edition. (Chasin M, Katz J, eds.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,US; 6Rev Ed edition; 2009. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Clinical-Audiology-Lippincott-Williams/dp/078178106X
• BSA Recommended Procedure Determination of Uncomfortable Loudness Levels. http://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Uncomfortable-Loudness-Level-1.pdf
• Picton TW (Terence W). Human Auditory Evoked Potentials . Plural Publishing; 2011.