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Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Hearing Aid Audiology

The course delivers the skills for graduates to be fit for purpose, practice and registration. It provides a challenging balance between the development of core skills and professional practice required by Hearing Aid Audiologists who require an understanding of basic sciences, medical aspects of audiology, audiological techniques, hearing advice and rehabilitation. 

Overview

The foundation degree in Hearing Aid Audiology is a vocational programme designed to meet the needs of your employer, other audiology professionals and people who experience hearing loss.

The foundation degree (FdSc) in Hearing Aid Audiology enables the student to safely and effectively learn audiological theory and practical interventions that are evidence-based and responsive to the needs of diverse hearing-impaired communities. You will also to be sensitive to the needs of service users and carers, working in partnership to empower and enable them. 

The programme is delivered using a blended learning approach with interactive and web-based lectures and seminars alongside teaching based at the university. 

Find out more about our Hearing Aid Dispenser Apprenticeship

Key features

  • Provides eligibility for registration by the Health and Care Professions Council and produces graduates who meet the published national Standards for Hearing Aid Dispensers in the independent sector and for Associate Practitioners in Audiology within the NHS.
  • Produces graduates who can bring qualities of critical judgement and reasoning to their chosen occupation and who are capable of applying both academic and clinical audiological knowledge.
  • Provides students with an intellectually rigorous and up-to-date education in defined areas within audiology that will help to achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals.
  • Volunteering opportunities locally, nationally and internationally available through our career enhancing projects.
  • Facilities benefiting from the latest equipment providing a dedicated setting and relevant workplace experience, including CARL, our virtual patient.

 

More courses like this:

Healthcare Science (Audiology) BSc (Hons)

Hearing Aid Dispenser Apprenticeship

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B611

Duration: Approx 18.5 months (includes final submission) with two intakes per year in October and March

Fees and funding: £14,500

Trainees from Specsavers and the NHS should contact the admissions lead, Donna Corrigan, directly by email at donna.corrigan@dmu.ac.uk.

(*This is the total cost for the course and is NOT eligible for student loans, either individuals or sponsors pay for the fee)

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from your work place and accommodation.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

This course is not open to international students.

 

 

Entry criteria

Entry onto the Foundation Degree has to be supported by an employer who agrees to provide you with a suitably qualified and experienced clinical educator or supervisor.

Students may be required to attend for interview at which the appropriateness of their previous individual experience and learning will be considered prior to being allocated a place.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check: Yes – this must be verified by your employer.

You must be in sufficiently good mental and physical health to be able to practise without risk to themselves or others verified by your employer.

Mature Students (>21 years old)

Alternative relevant educational experience will be considered for mature students, including the Hearing Care Assistant Course, experience in working with people, administration, finance and management. Please contact the admission tutor directly by email at Donna.corrigan@dmu.ac.uk.

 

Requirements
  • Minimum 18 years old
  • 32 UCAS points from at least one science A level or equivalent
  • Pass at equivalent BTEC courses (BTECs can be taken alongside, or in place of, GCSEs and A levels)
  • GCSE Mathematics and English at grade C/4 or level 2 Mathematics and English equivalent

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise and accreditations

 

Phase 1 is delivered online with visits to DMU twice in the first eight months for one week at a time. At the close of the eight months there is a week of clinical examinations at the university.

Phase 2 starts immediately and runs for the next 11 months.  Over this period, you will have 8 one-week sessions spread over the 11-month period.

Five of these weeks will be at the university and the remaining 3 will be live sessions online, so there is not a need to come to the university, but you need to be in an environment that is quiet and distraction free with a PC and internet connection.

Topics covered

Phase 1

  • Anatomy and Physiology and Medical Conditions of the auditory system
  • Basic Acoustics and Psychoacoustics
  • Hearing Assessment and Hearing Aids
  • Social and Medical models of disability in the auditory rehabilitation process
  • Professionalism: ethics, performance and conduct
  • Clinical and practical procedures

Phase 2

  • Advanced Audiometric techniques for assessment and special cases
  • Human Biology and Chronic disease that affect hearing and balance
  • Research skills: Interpreting and Analysing data, writing scientifically
  • Rehabilitation of the complex patients
  • Advanced and Fine tuning of clinical skills
  • Work ready skills: time management, legal and financial framework, employability skills Integrated end-point assessment (EPA)

 

The course has been uniquely structured and designed to meet the needs of the industry and the professional body.

Teaching sessions include:

  • Formal and interactive lectures
  • Staff and student seminars
  • Tutorial discussions
  • Practical and clinical based workshops

Assessment methods include: 

  • Written exams
  • Coursework (essays, posters, wikis)
  • Presentations
  • Dissertation
  • Practical and clinically-based assessment activities

Teaching contact hours

A variety of teaching and learning approaches will be used so contact hours in a typical block week may vary. Typically, Phase 1 consists of 84 contact hours of teaching across 3 block weeks and phase 2 consists of 192 contact hours of teaching across 8 block weeks.

Personal study will form a significant part of learning hours and independent study is expected throughout both phases.

The teaching staff have a range of backgrounds and specialist areas. There is a combination of staff with strong clinical and academic backgrounds. Invited guest lecturers are used, as well as current clinical practitioners.

One of the strengths of the team is their diversity and this has made students feel able to approach staff for help and relate better with their tutors.

Accreditation: This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by HCPC, and ensure they are fit to practise.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Hawthorn Building

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences. There are five dedicated Audiological practical teaching suites to enhance your learning:

  • Diagnostic suite
  • Rehabilitation suite
  • Balance Assessment Suite
  • Balance Rehabilitation Suite
  • Paediatric Testing Suite

All the suites have modern furniture and facilities to capture or film your practical sessions, so that you can review your own performance with a tutor and improve your practice. The suites are equipped with the latest equipment.

The suites belong to our students and they can access them to practice and develop their clinical skills during non-teaching times. All our suites are designed to be versatile – this means practical sessions do not exceed 12 students, with the typical number being around 6-8.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
Hearing Aid Experience

Work Based Learning

This is an employer-based course; your employer must support you through the work-based learning elements of the course and supervise you in learning your practical competencies. You should also have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of client and patients, and link theory and practice to enable your progression towards full competencies. 

The university will expect the employer to give you direct experience of work and the opportunities to link theory and practice. Your employer will need to: 

  • Nominate a practice educator who will be responsible for your development, and enable you to gain and apply experience, knowledge and skills. 
  • Ensure the practice educator has the skills and knowledge to be able to supervise you in learning your practical competencies. 
  • Ensure the practice educator understands their responsibilities for your day-to-day supervision and provides work-based opportunities for you to interact with a wide range of client and patients, undertake regular monitoring and assessment. 
  • Give your practice educator time to attend training or update events. 
  • Make the practice educator aware of their responsibility for ensuring the standards of practice meet the programme requirements. 

In turn, you will be expected to further good relationships between the university and your employer and share work-based experiences and knowledge with peers and tutors. 

Hearing Aid Practice

Practice Experience

It is a requirement of the programme to demonstrate professional practice, in order to progress and graduate. During the course of the programme you will complete a portfolio evidencing your development and competence.  

If you wish to receive further information about the course and to attend a dedicated open day, please contact the Admissions Tutor, Donna Corrigan by email at Donna.corrigan@dmu.ac.uk.

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