Curriculum

This page contains results from working groups on

• Core curriculum for the "General Audiologist" programs
• Minimum requirements for technical audiology training in a "general audiologist" program
• MODULES for a Master in Audiology for ENT Specialists

Results from working group on Core curriculum for the "General Audiologist" programs

Basic Knowledge about

• Balance disorders
• Signal processing
• Physics of sound (temporal and frequency domain, acoustics)
• Phonetics, speech acoustics
• Sound perception and Psychoacoustics
• Speech/Language development
• Principles of measurement
• Electro-acoustics
• Device technology (understand behaviour of system): hearing aids, auditory implants, assistive listening devices
• Using software tools
• Fitting methods
• Real ear measurements
• Ear mould acoustics
• Validation of fitting
• Evaluation (basic functioning of devices)
• Evoked potentials
• Intervention methods
• Prevention methods
• Epidemiology of ear disorders
• Relationship between professions, ethics, confidentiality issues
• Pediatric testing, behavioural audiometry
• Cognitive development and learning,
• Declination of cognitive abilities with age
• Referral pathways to other professionals
• Medico-legal aspects
• (Re-)habilitation and educational options (including facilities for sign language etc)

Detailed Knowledge about

• Anatomy, physiology of hearing organ
• Audiometry: Pure tone, speech
• ABR
• Patho-physiology of auditory system (peripheral, central ones)
• Otoacoustic emission
• Tinnitus
• Measurement of dynamic range
• Tympanometry
• Consequences of auditory disorders (e.g. handicaps, psychosocial, educational)

Key skills

• Communication
• Team working
• Independent learning
• Problem solving
• Critical understanding of research papers and presentations

Practical skills

• Patient handling (including parents and siblings)
• Screening non-diagnostic otoscopy (distinguish normal from non-normal)
• Pure tone audiometry
• Speech audiometry
• Tympanometry incl. acoustic reflex audiometry
• Measurement of dynamic range, e.g. UCL
• Communication with hearing impaired people
  

Results from the working group on 'Minimum requirements for technical audiology training in a "general audiologist" program'

Tasks that technical audiologists (university level) have to do:

• Diagnostics (Common, advanced, interpretation of measures and new inventions)
• Counceling
• Hearing Aid fitting
• Cochlear etc. Implant fitting
• Contribution to devices development
• Hearing conservation

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies that are required:

Basics:

• Statistics
• Signal processing
• Physics of sound (temporal and frequency domain, acoustics)
• Phonetics, speech acoustics
• Sound perception and Psychoacoustics
• Speech/Language development
• Principles of measurement
• Electroacoustics
• Device technology (Understand behaviour of system)
• Using software tools
• Patient handling (asking questions)

Key skill:

• Communication
• Team working
• Independent learning
• Problem solving

Research skills:

• Math
• Methodology
• Understand communicated research results

Diagnostics:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Diagnostic tests
• Principles of measurement procedures

Counceling:

• Counceling skills
• Health system, legal system, rights

Device fitting:

• Psychology
• Fitting methods
• Real ear measurements
• Ear mould acoustics
• Validation
• Evaluation (basic functioning of devices)

Contribution to device development:

• Treatment of data

Hearing conservation:

• Noise control
• Hearing protection

Results from working group on 'MODULES for a Master in Audiology for ENT Specialists'

A. Basic & Applied Bio-physics of the audio-vestibular system

• Basic Mechanics
• Vibrations-Waves-Acoustics
• Signal processing
• Physiological signals
• Electrophysiology (EChoG, VEMP’s, ABR)
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Hearing aids, Cochlear Implants & Middle ear implants technology
• Psychoacoustics

B. Anatomy & Physiology of the audio-vestibular system

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Imaging (functional MRI & vascular imaging)
• Pharmacology
• Basic Histopathology

C. Research Methodology

• Statistics
• Evidence Based Medicine Skills
• Critical Evaluation of Literature

D. Physiology and Pathology of Communication

• Language development
• Psychology (cognitive approaches)
• Neurology of Communication Disorders
• Common neurological disorders (migraine)
• Speech & Language Pathology
• Ophthalmology

E. Pathology, Diagnosis & Management of Auditory Disorders

• Tinnitus
• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

F. Pathology, Diagnostis & Management of Vestibular Disorders

G. Paediatric Audiology

H. Audiology for Special Populations

• Special needs
• Musicians
• Geriatric

I. Clinical Training (1/6 of credits: 600 hours)

J. Research Thesis (1/3 of credits)