Introduction to Educational Audiology

The course provides fundamental knowledge about various aspects of hearing impairments and the necessary accommodations required for development, learning, and participation from a life-course perspective. The content of the course includes:

• Anatomy and physiology of hearing
• Hearing loss and hearing conditions
• Consequences of hearing impairments
• Technical compensatory options and assistive devices
• Audiopedagogical facilitation in kindergarten and school
• Hearing impairments and society
• Laws, rights, and support agencies

Target group:

Educators or others with relevant education who wish to specialize in the field of audiopedagogy. Educators working with children, adolescents, and adults with hearing impairments in various educational settings.

Knowledge:

The students:

• have in-depth knowledge of medical and technical audiology
• have in-depth knowledge of the consequences of hearing impairments
• have knowledge of hearing impairments in combination with various disabilities
• have knowledge of different perspectives on hearing impairments that exist in society
• have in-depth knowledge of facilitation for participation related to hearing impairments from a life-course perspective

Skills:

The students:

• can describe the structure and function of the auditory organ
• can interpret and describe audiograms (degree of hearing loss, type of hearing loss, and possible causes)
• can describe technical, compensatory aids and place them in a pedagogical context
• can assess and describe what constitutes good facilitation for participation and coping related to hearing impairments
• can contribute to enabling children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly to best manage their hearing impairment
• can document their knowledge in writing

General competence:

The students:

• can analytically, critically, and creatively apply their knowledge, skills, and theories about facilitation for participation for people with hearing impairments from a life-course perspective.

The students:

can analytically, critically, and creatively apply their knowledge, skills, and theories about facilitation for participation for people with hearing impairments from a life-course perspective.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars during 3 study gatherings, 3 x 3/5 days Student exercises. Assessed as approved/not approved. Online lectures and flipped classroom teaching may be relevant. Practical training: 1 week, including preparatory and follow-up work between the 2nd and 3rd gatherings. Assessed as approved/not approved.

Detailed description of practical training: Practical training equivalent to 1 week, including preparatory and follow-up work. The practical training should be related to the observation of facilitation for education, inclusion, and participation for a person with hearing impairments. The practical training can be completed at the student’s own workplace. After completing the practical training, a practice report is to be written.

Mandatory activities

• Participation in study gatherings
• Student exercises
• Practical training Practice report