Fundamentals of Auditory Implants

Learning Outcomes

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Explain the impact of severe to profound hearing loss and the different types of auditory implants that could be considered, taking into account aspects such as candidacy and factors that can influence outcomes, current issues in development and design as well as future directions
• Explain the different fitting options, namely unilateral, bilateral, bimodal, electro-acoustic stimulation and electro-haptics (vibrotactile stimulation)
• Demonstrate mastery of effective self-directed learning and scientific communication
• Explain the importance of a multi-disciplinary team, assessment procedures, surgical and medical aspects, vestibular function considerations, tuning of devices, use of objective measures and hearing rehabilitation
• Critically evaluate information from various sources, including research evidence, in the context of auditory implants and associated clinical practice

1.Nature and consequences of hearing loss

2.Overview of cochlear implants and other implantable devices

3.Cochlear Implants

• CI design, hardware and signal processing
• The CI Team
• Current issues in development and design and future directions
• Assessment and CI candidacy
• Surgical and medical aspects
• Vestibular function and CI
• Bilateral versus bimodal fittings
• CI companies, different products, accessories and telephone use (Practical workshop)
• Key issues in children
• Perspectives of a parent of a child with CI (Patient session)
• Cochlear implant tuning – what, how and why (theory)
• Monitoring CI function using objective measures
• Hearing rehabilitation – what, how and why (theory)
• Perspectives of an adult CI user (Patient session)
• Electro-haptics: vibrotactile devices and CI
• Individual variation in CI outcomes

4.Bone conduction hearing instruments

• Bone anchored hearing aids: theory
• Perspectives of a patient with a bone anchored hearing aid (Patient session)
• Middle Ear Implants: theory
• Perspectives of a patient with a middle ear implant (Patient session)

5.Auditory Brainstem implants

• Auditory Brainstem Implants: candidacy, design, surgical and other considerations, outcomes

• Lectures in classroom environment
• Problem based learning work
• Practical clinic observation sessions (recorded clinical procedures and the perspectives of auditory implant users/patients)

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.