FOUNDATION DEGREE IN HEARING AID AUDIOLOGY
WITH THE HEARING COMPANY AND ASTON UNIVERSITY
From April 2009, the hearing aid dispensing industry will be regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC currently regulate a number of different health professions. Once the HPC becomes the new regulator, an appropriate degree becomes the minimum entry standard for a career in Audiology. The Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology has been specially designed to meet their minimum entry standards.
The Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology at Aston University has been developed to run alongside the existing BSc Audiology programme and shares many of the same lectures and course work. In addition, specialist training from recognised hearing aid audiologists from within The Hearing Company will ensure that the student becomes a productive member of their dispensing team at an early stage in the course.
Students completing and passing the Foundation Degree will be qualified to work as a hearing aid audiologist in the private hearing aid sector or as an associate audiologist within the NHS.
Course Structure
The Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology is a two year course based at Aston University in Birmingham. The course content includes:
Anatomy
Physiology and pathology of the hearing system
Audiometry
Hearing aid technology
Rehabilitation and management of hearing loss
Teaching programmes comprise a variety of methods including lectures, tutorials, practical skill sessions, presentations and problem based learning. Teaching will take place at both the University and The Hearing Company’s Training Centre (also based in Birmingham). In the third term of each academic year, you will be required to fulfil a field-based training assignment in a number of The Hearing Company’s branches. This is assessed as part of your degree, but you will also have the opportunity to be paid for the work you carry out during this period.
To enrol you must have GCSE “O” levels in Maths and English plus two “A” levels (or equivalent), one being in a Science subject, although we also welcome enquiries from mature candidates who may not have the exact entry requirements. In addition you will be contracted to The Hearing Company, which will enable you to complete the work-based learning activities. Once you have completed and passed all of the Foundation Degree modules you will be eligible to apply for direct entry to the HPC register.
Features and benefits of this course
What are the benefits of studying for a Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology with The Hearing Company and Aston University?
- A qualification as a hearing aid audiologist
- Guaranteed employment with The Hearing Company on qualification
- Academic fees paid by The Hearing Company
- Additional financial support from The Hearing Company for each year of the course
- All equipment supplied by The Hearing Company
- A University degree
- University attendance each year
- Involvement in University life
- Professionally produced course materials
- Tutor support for all aspects of your academic study
- Mentoring to support you in your learning
- Study whilst you work
- Excellent career development potential
- The opportunity to progress to a an honours degree (course details to be confirmed)
- Earn whilst you learn (see below)
Earn while you Learn
From an early stage of the course, the aim is to ensure that students can “earn while they learn” by performing as useful members of the hearing aid dispensing team. Once they have completed trimesters one and two they will be able to take on a “hands-on” role in The Hearing Company’s branches under suitable supervision, once the University has assessed the student as competent.
In the first two trimesters our Foundation Degree, students will be assessed in core competencies which include taking a case history, otoscopy and pure tone audiometry. Once these have been passed the student can undertake these in practice without direct supervision. Later in the course, further competencies including hearing aid programming, aural impression taking and rehabilitation will be assessed and subsequently practised in the third trimester of the second year.
Please note that all students will be registered with the appropriate governing body (such as the Hearing Aid Council / Health Professionals Council) so all actions will be governed by the relevant body’s Code of Practice or equivalent.
2008 Key Dates - Enrollment/Induction: 3 September 2008
