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Sound reasons for new degree at UCPublished by the Communications and Development Department
23 July 2004
The University of Canterbury is to help address a national shortage of audiologists by introducing a Master of Audiology degree next year.
News that the degree has been approved by the Committee on University Academic Programmes is music to the ears of Professor Michael Robb, Head of the Department of Communication Disorders.
“Our programme will be only the second in the country to train audiologists,” he says.
“There is a shortage of audiologists in the country with approximately 80 in current practice. The ratio of audiologists-to-hearing impaired is 1:5600. In Australia the ratio is 1:2700.
"We feel the hearing-impaired of New Zealand are not receiving the level of service found in other countries. Increasing the number of qualified audiologists should go a long way in addressing this need."
The two-year post-graduate programme will include course work, clinical and research experiences. Course work will focus on hearing science and the diagnosis and management of hearing disorders.
Students who complete the degree will be qualified as entry-level audiologists and will meet the standards established by the New Zealand Audiological Society (NZAS) for provisional membership.
“Along with bringing an additional health science focus to the University’s current list of health-related degrees, we also anticipate increasing our clinical services to the community,” says Professor Robb.
“The University of Canterbury Speech and Hearing Clinic is the largest clinic of its kind in the South Island, offering a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to children and adults with communication disorders. With the introduction of the MAud programme it is anticipated that the clinic's audiological services will be greatly expanded, including hearing assessments for students and staff, as well as the eventual fitting of hearing aids.”
For further information please contact: John MacDonald Tel: +64-3-364 2910
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