Auditory Processing and Hearing Bionics

Subject 431-671 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 36 Hours; Non contact time commitment 84 Hours
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Prof Anthony Burkitt
Subject Overview: This subject introduces students to auditory processing (predominately in humans, but also including automatic speech recognition methods) and the prostheses available for treating auditory impairment (hearing aids and cochlear implants). Topics covered include: acoustics and auditory stimuli, physical characteristics of sound, properties of speech, auditory pathway, neural coding of sound, speech and language processing, auditory psychophysics, audio coding, automatic speech recognition, hearing loss and auditory impairment, measurements of auditory function, hearing aids, cochlear implants (the bionic ear), signal processing strategies for cochlear implants.
Objectives:

On successful completion, students should be able to:

  • describe the physical characteristics of speech and sound
  • describe the processing of sound carried out in the human auditory pathway
  • measure the behaviour of the human auditory system using psychophysical procedures
  • identify and describe the principles underlying different automatic speech recognition systems
  • evaluate the performance of an automatic speech recognition system
  • interpret the results of the principal measures of auditory impairment
  • identify the type of neural prosthesis appropriate for specific types of hearing impairment
  • describe the signal processing carried out by a hearing aid
  • describe the principal signal processing techniques used with cochlear implants
  • identify the factors that determine the effectiveness of a cochlear implant for a particular patient
Assessment: One 1-hour test (10%), one 2-hour examination (40%) and two assignments of 3,000 words equivalent each (50%) including a presentation and a computer-based project using MATLAB.
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: 1. ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals;

2. ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large;

3. ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution;

4. ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance.

5. ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team leader.

6. understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them

7. capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity and for the ethics of scholarship
Related Course(s): Master of Biomedical Engineering
Master of Engineering Science(Biomedical Enginering)

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