Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Geriatric Audiology Curricula and Clinical Practice: A Canadian Perspective

 
Author(s) J.B. Orange, PhD
Christine L MacNeill, MCISc
James Stouffer, PhD
Volume 21
Number 2
Year 1997
Page(s) 84-103
Language English
Category
Keywords audiology
geriatric
curriculum
clinical
practice
Abstract The projected increase in the percentage of older adults in Canada and the high prevalence of hearing impairment among this group suggest that adults 65 years of age or older will place greater demands on the services provided by hearing health care professionals in the near future. To date, however, there are no published data that describe either the status of geriatric audiology curricula in Canadian universities or the clinical practice patterns of audiologists in geriatric audiology. The purpose of this study was twofold. The first was to examine the curricula relating to geriatric audiology in the six Canadian university audiology programs. The second was to survey audiologists in Canada concerning their clinical practice patterns in geriatric audiology. Completed questionnaires were received from all six Canadian university audiology programs and from 406 audiologists. Five of the six universities provide students with curriculum considered necessary by the national professional association for the identification and treatment of hearing-impaired older adults. Also, clinical education in geriatric audiology varies greatly among the university programs. Clinicians consider both academic and clinical education as effective tools for learning about geriatric audiology issues. They also indicated, however, that professional experiences are the most valuable method for learning about the hearing needs of older adults.



L'augmentation prévue du pourcentage d'adultes âgés au Canada et la fréquence de la déficience auditive chez cette population amènent à penser que les adultes de 65 ans et plus provoqueront, dans un avenir rapproché, une forte croissance de la demande pour les services des professionnels de la santé auditive. Jusqu'à présent, toutefois, aucune des données publiées ne fait état des cours actuellement offerts en audiologie gériatrique dans les universités canadiennes ni des schémas de la pratique clinique des audiologistes en gériatrie. Cette étude avait une double fin: examiner les cours en audiologie gériatrique dans les six programmes d'audiologie des universités canadiennes et effectuer un sondage auprès des audiologistes du Canada pour connaître le schéma de leur pratique clinique en gériatrie. Les six universités et 406 audiologistes ont retourné le questionnaire après l'avoir rempli. Cinq des six universités offrent aux étudiants des cours que l'association professionnelle nationale juge essentiels pour le dépistage et le traitement des aînés malentendants. De plus, la formation clinique en audiologie gériatrique varie énormément d'une université à l'autre. Les cliniciens estiment que tant les cours théoriques que l'enseignement clinique sont des outils efficaces pour connaître les problèmes audiologiques en gériatrie. Néanmoins, ils ont fait savoir que l'expérience professionnelle était la méthode idéale pour apprendre à conaîtres les besoins audiologiques des personnes âgées.
Record ID 144
Link https://cjslpa.ca/files/1997_JSLPA_Vol_21/No_02_69-144/Orange_MacNeill_Stouffer_JSLPA_1997.pdf
 

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