BSc (Hons) in Audiology

BSc (Hons) in Audiology

Audiologists are health professionals who diagnose, treat and manage individuals with hearing loss or balance problems. They provide the specialised assessment protocols to support medical diagnosis and also provide the rehabilitative services necessary for managing the effects of hearing loss and balance disorders. Audiologists work in medical centres, private practice, schools, government health facilities and other clinical settings. As a profession, audiology has consistently ranked high on the US News and World Report’s top careers lists, having topped the list in 2006.

In an Irish context, 250,000 adults will have a permanent hearing impairment, due mainly to aging and/or noise exposure, while there are up to 10,000 adults and children on waiting lists for a hearing test. The growth in demand for audiological services is being driven by a number of factors; including the general aging of the population, exposure to excessive noise in occupational and vocational settings, State-mandated hearing testing for newborns (according to the National Audiology Review Group), and an increase in the number of balance disorders.

This exciting honours degree in audiology at AIT is the first of its kind in Ireland and builds on the institute’s growing reputation in life and health sciences. You will have an opportunity to learn in state-of-the-art science facilities, which have benefited from some €3 million investment in recent years.

As a student on the degree, the basic building blocks of science are introduced in the first year, as well as a number of modules which build on transferable skills and pave the way for the transition to third level education. Audiology is introduced as a profession as well as sign language and lip reading. In the second year, disability and deafness are developed as underpinning themes, while clinical practice is at the heart of the third year experience, including a clinical placement in the second semester. In the final year, the emphasis is on clinical and advanced therapies, psychological impact and diagnosis, culminating in the integrated capstone project. Evidence-based best practice and research are key strands of Year 4, which is basically the capping of all the skills acquired throughout the programme, preparing you for the profession of audiology and employment as an audiology practitioner.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate

Minimum of Grade C3 at higher level in two subjects, plus a minimum of Grade C3 at ordinary level Mathematics and Grade D3 at ordinary level in three other subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. One of these three subjects must be a language (English or Irish). 

For entry in September 2012, application is restricted to those applicants whose assessment for entry is based on Leaving Certificate or equivalent school leaving examination.

Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

Learning to Learn, Introduction to Audiology, Sign Language with an Introduction to Lip Reading, Mathematics for Scientists, Physics, Biology.

Year 1 – Semester 2

Introduction to Audiology, Mathematics for Scientists, Introduction to Health Promotion, Disability and Deafness, Physics, Biology.

Year 2 – Semester 1

Behavioural Science, Human Psychology, Acoustics and Sound Perception, Anatomy & Physiology for Audiologists, Professional Practice Management with Business and IT, Development of Hearing, Speech, Language & Assessment.

Year 2 – Semester 2

Professional Practice Management with Business and IT, Development of Hearing, Speech, Language & Assessment, Pathophysiology of Hearing and Balance, Audiology Research Methods, Clinical Governance and Ethics, Medical Emergencies.

Year 3 – Semester 1

Rehabilitation & Management of Adults with Hearing Difficulties, Paediatric Assessment, Physiological and Psychophysical Measurement, Preparation for Clinical Practice, Pediatric Habilitation.

Year 3 – Semester 2

Placement.

Year 4 – Semester 1

Placement, Placement - Integrated Capstone Project (including research).

Year 4 – Semester 2

Health Psychology & Sociology, Epidemiology, Adult Hearing Screening & Occupational Hearing Loss, Business Marketing for Healthcare Professionals, Rehabilitation and Management of Tinnitus and Balance Disorders.

Progression

An honours degree is an effective basis for postgraduate training and research leading to Master’s and PhD (Level 9/10) qualifications. As a graduate of this degree, you will be eligible to apply to any future MSc degree in audiology offered by a HEI in Ireland or other related MSc programme at other third level institutions.

Professional Recognition

It is envisaged that this honours degree will meet the standards of two professional bodies: the Irish Academy of Audiology and the British Academy of Audiology. It is intended that the programme would ultimately fulfil the requirements of formal accreditation by the BAA, according to their stipulated guidelines.

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of the first BSc in audiology in Ireland you will be well placed to pursue employment generated by the implementation of a national hearing screening programme, the restructuring of services and staffing, and an urgent workforce review to confirm the extent of the required uplift of numbers of audiology professionals. These are just some of the recommendations by the National Audiology Review Group.

Most audiologists gain expertise in a specialist field such as paediatric audiology, balance problems, advanced hearing devices such as cochlear and brainstem implants and digital hearing aids. You could gain employment in the areas of paediatric assessment, adult assessment, special needs populations, or research and training.

Audiologists may work as part of a multidisciplinary team including: ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultants, neurologists, speech and language therapists, hearing therapists, teachers of the hearing-impaired, paediatricians, and physiotherapists.

Additional Information

Application to this programme for September 2012 is through the change of mind facility of the CAO.