Hearing Devices and Rehabilitation A

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

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

• developing and implementing individualised aural rehabilitation programs;
• the psychological and social problems experienced by hearing impaired adults;
• tinnitus;
• speech reading;
• communication strategies;
• evaluation of communication function;
• communication strategy training methods;
• assisted listening devices;
• the medical aspects of ageing;
• audiology and vision impairment;
• aural rehabilitation for elderly clients;
• the design and operation of hearing aids;
• features/options available in hearing aids;
• selection of appropriate features;
• measurement of hearing aid electroacoustic characteristics;
• earmoulds and venting;
• prescriptive gain;
• frequency response and MPO selection (including NAL prescriptive procedures);
• verification techniques (including insertion gain);
• counselling regarding expectations and use of hearing aids;
• management of problems arising with hearing aid use (including feedback and the occlusion effect);
• evaluation of outcomes; and
• considerations when fitting hearing aids for infants and young children.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• develop the necessary skills to assess the communication function of hearing impaired adults and to train communication function on both an individual and a group basis (including assessment and counselling skills;
• develop rehabilitation programs to suit individual needs;
• convey information to hearing impaired people and those involved in their welfare in a form that can be readily understood;
• the ability to select and evaluate appropriate device(s) for hearing impaired clients;
• the ability to critically assess different hearing aid selection and fitting procedures and;
• the ability to integrate information obtained from a variety of sources including electro-acoustic and real-ear measures and subjective reports.

On completion of this subject students should show:

• an understanding of the emotional problems experienced by hearing impaired adults;
• the ability to present verbal and written information clearly and effectively to hearing impaired individuals;
• the ability to act professionally in a clinical environment;
• the ability to interact positively with patients of different ages and from different backgrounds;
• problem solving skills in the context of rehabilitative assessment and management;
• utilise theoretical concepts about hearing aids in the clinical hearing aid fitting situation;
• explain, in lay terms to hearing impaired clients, the likely benefits and limitations of various hearing aid features; and
• critically evaluate published material about hearing aids.