AUDI1009 Clinical Practicum 1 (neurosensory)

Module Aims

The aims of this module are to facilitate your learning of the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes of a Healthcare Science Practitioner in the neurosensory division, covering audiology, neurophysiology and ophthalmology/vision science. This includes basic assessment and rehabilitative techniques. A key theme of this module is to help you integrate theory with practice.

Learning Outcomes

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Explain the rationale, theoretical basis and clinical utility of the following neurosensory procedures for use with adult patients, with reference to evidence (e.g. basic science, professional standards, best-practice guidelines and published research): • Audiology: otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry (PTA), middle ear tests, aural impression taking and hearing aid testing. • Neurophysiology: electrode preparation and application, spontaneous EEG, EMG, nerve conduction velocity. • Ophthalmology: ophthalmoscopy, subjective visual acuity testing (including Snellen charts, Landolt Rings), visual evoked responses.
• Explain the principal sources of measurement and clinical uncertainty associated with those procedures, their impact on the interpretation of the results and the strengths and limitations of approaches to manage these sources of error, with reference to evidence. Important examples including cross-hearing and its prevention with masking during PTA; electrical noise and associated signal processing with EEG and evoked responses
• Perform core procedures from the above list on individuals from a non-clinical population safely and with basic technical competence showing effective patient handling, communication, professionalism, interviewing and counselling skills as appropriate.
• Explain, and where appropriate demonstrate, the basic statutory and mandatory knowledge and skills of a health care professional
• Evaluate critically the results of individual and multiple procedures with consideration to measurement and clinical uncertainty, leading to potential interpretations in terms of common neurosensory system pathologies, identification of key outstanding uncertainties and recommendations for further testing as appropriate.
• Demonstrate appropriate and consistent use of terminology, scientific conventions, scientific language, methods for presenting and reporting test results, professionalism and patient-centred approach.