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Overview

Course Prescription

Study of types of hearing impairment, pathologies of the hearing mechanism, tests and clinical procedures used in audiological evaluations and hearing instrumentation.

Course Overview

The course examines hearing for speech and language across the lifespan. The course is taught through a combination of lectures and labs at the Grafton Campus. Labs are designed to supplement lecture content and provide practical experience and deeper understanding of audiological methods including pure tone, immittance and speech audiometry, hearing technology and auditory processing assessment. 

This course builds on previous learning in SPCHSCI 713 (Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Language Therapy) and is taught in conjunction with SPCHSCI 736 (Topics in Communication Disorders in Adults) that includes additional teaching on auditory processing versus language processing in adults with neurological conditions.

Key Topics

  1. Hearing loss across the lifespan, with a focus on children and older people
  2. Behavioural assessment methods for hearing (pure tone audiometry) and ear health (otoscopy, immittance) in children and adults
  3. Audiological assessment of speech perception (speech audiometry) and factors affecting speech understanding
  4. Diagnostic audiology and differential diagnosis of different types of hearing loss (conductive, cochlear, mixed, retrocochlear, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder)
  5. Aural rehabilitation including hearing aid, remote microphone hearing aids and cochlear implant technologies
  6. Impacts of hearing loss on speech, language and voice and on quality of life and wellbeing
  7. Speech and voice acoustics and analysis
  8. Auditory processing assessment and management
  9. Considerations for the speech-language therapist working with people with hearing difficulties

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, an additional 2-hour lab/practical/lecture, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or exam preparation. The workload is higher in some weeks, for example when students are conducting individual hearing assessments for their audiometry Case Studies. Because the course is interrupted by the Clinical Block Placement, SPCHSCI 733 teaching begins on Monday 12th February 2024 and the teaching period is extended into the first examination week.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including labs/tutorials, to complete components of the course.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including tutorials/labs, will not be available as recordings.
  • The course will include live online events, including group discussions/tutorials.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

See Talis Course Reading List for the complete reference list. Below are some useful 'overview' resources for the course:

  1. Lisa L. Cunningham & Debara L. Tucci. (2017). Hearing Loss in Adults. N Engl J Med 2017; 377:2465-2473. Available online December 21, 2017. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1616601
  2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Hearing Loss in Children [Practice Portal]. https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Permanent-Childhood-Hearing-Loss/
  3. Keith, W. J., Purdy, S. C., Baily, M. R., & Kay, F. M. (2019). New Zealand Guidelines on Auditory Processing Disorder. New Zealand Audiological Society. https://www.audiology.org.nz/
  4. Frederick N. Martin & John Greer Clark, Introduction to Audiology, 12th Edition | Allyn & Bacon Communication Sciences and Disorders 2014 | Enhanced Pearson eText packaged with a bound book, use ISBN 0133783723 (Note this is available for 60-day loan through Philson Library)

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Some practical sessions, and assessments for the Case Studies assignment, will take place in Grafton Campus Building 507 Lower Ground Clinics and Labs. Students should follow Clinic protocols and take extra care when assessing members of the public in these spaces.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

This course uses client materials including assessment / therapy plans, photographs and videos to enhance your learning. Students must take all reasonable steps to protect against inadvertent disclosure of this information to people who are not enrolled in this course. This includes not sharing materials and being aware of one’s environment when watching or discussing class materials online. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

Note that students must pass the two OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) in this course in order to complete the MSLTPrac degree, hence, for these two coursework assessments, resit opportunities will be offered. This is rarely needed, but additional training is offered when required for students needing more support to achieve these practical competencies.

Special Requirements

Students must complete practical work and the two OSCEs in order to complete the course.  Students will need to be on Campus outside standard hours in order to complete audiological assessments for their audiometry Case Studies assignment. Some labs will take place in the Grafton Campus Building 507 Lower Ground Clinics area - students will need to comply with University of Auckland Clinics Health and Safety and Privacy guidelines whilst working in this area.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Student feedback in 2024 was positive but some noted the difficulty of referring back to teaching earlier in the semester. A 5% quiz has been added that will occur before the clinical block placement, and the exam will focus on content in the latter part of the semester.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

This course is supported by the Tuākana in Science Programme, which facilitates the success and wellbeing of our Māori and Pacific students. The foundation of the Tuākana Programme is the Tuākana-Teina principle, an integral relationship in which older or more expert Tuākana (traditionally brother, sister or cousin) guides a younger or less expert Teina (traditionally younger sibling or cousin). This is a reciprocal relationship which fosters safe learning and teaching environments. Read more here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Because the skills taught in this course represent essential competencies for speech language therapists, students should inform the Course Director or Course Co-ordinator if they are unable to attend or participate in any class or lab sessions.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.