EFAS and the ‘General Audiologist’ Model

Dr. Theresa Pitt, Au.D., M.Sc., FSHAA, Ireland Dr. Theresa Pitt, Au.D., M.Sc., FSHAA, Ireland ((President, Irish Society of Audiology, Member of British Society of President, Irish Society of Audiology, Member of British Society of

Audiology & American Academy of Audiology)Audiology & American Academy of Audiology)Ex-General Secretary & Current Irish Representative on EFAS Ex-General Secretary & Current Irish Representative on EFAS

CouncilCouncil

Senior Audiological Scientist South-East Ireland & Senior Audiological Scientist South-East Ireland & Co-Ordinator of Diploma in Hearing Aid Audiology, UCD, IrelandCo-Ordinator of Diploma in Hearing Aid Audiology, UCD, Ireland

Presentation: Cork, 16Presentation: Cork, 16thth September 2005 September 2005

European Federation Audiology Societies at www.efas.wswww.efas.ws Conference locations since our 1992 Conference locations since our 1992 formation in Cambridge,UK:formation in Cambridge,UK:

1993: Hanover1993: Hanover1995: Noordwijkerhout1995: Noordwijkerhout1997: Prague1997: Prague1999: Oulu1999: Oulu2001: Bordeaux2001: Bordeaux2003: Crete2003: Crete2005: Goteborg2005: Goteborg

EFAS and the General Audiologist EFAS and the General Audiologist Training ModelTraining Model

•‘Improved services for hearing-impaired Europeans’ = major goal of European Federation of Audiology Societies or EFAS

1992: EFAS Founded: not-for-profit, educational organisation•Tempus Programme, training people from former Communist states - ran 1995-1997.1997: EFAS set up “Audiology Training” (EuropeanAT) working group to research professions. •Surveys revealed infrastructure of Audiology Education needed greater development; called for broad consensus. 1999: EFAS organised EAT workshop. Sorri (Finland) & Kiessling (Germany) were convenors (University of Giessen).15 out of 30 member European countries sent 33 delegates.

List of participants EAT Workshop 1999 SCANDINAVIA: Denmark: Parving, Walter Sweden: Arlinger, Arvidsson, Millioris, Ringdahl Finland: Kronlund, Huttunen, Sorri Norway: Laukli, Okstad

NORTHERN-WESTERN MAINLAND EUROPEAN: Germany: Diller, Kinkel, Kollmeier, Kiessling, Lenarz France: Dauman Netherlands: Feenstra, ten Boske, Verschuure, Van Zanten UK: Sirimanna, Umapathy

MEDITERRANEAN/SOUTHERN Spain: Barajas, Enrique Israel: Bergman, Hildesheimer Greece: Gavalas

FORMER ‘COMMUNIST’ STATES Slovenia: Gros, Vatovec Latvia: Kise Romania: Pascu Poland: Sulkowski

EFAS and the General Audiologist EFAS and the General Audiologist Training Model (1)Training Model (1)

Heated discussions! Heated discussions! Final proposal for ‘General Audiologist or GA profession’ Final proposal for ‘General Audiologist or GA profession’

to become primary provider in current European context.to become primary provider in current European context.

Professional skills and curriculum contents for a four Professional skills and curriculum contents for a four year GA training programme were described. 5 groups year GA training programme were described. 5 groups contributed: contributed:

1. Medical Audiology2. Technical Audiology 3. Rehabilitative (non-technical) Audiology 4. Environmental Audiology 5. Research Most groups led by ‘Northern European’ Convenors.

Delegates to EAT Workshop recognised that implementing Delegates to EAT Workshop recognised that implementing GA:GA:

shall not replace but shall supplement services of existing hearing care providers.

must be accomplished according to local need; different programmes in different countries.

may be developed as brand new profession, or existing group in Audiology may adopt GA curriculum to broaden scope.

=long term: not all countries will progress at same rate or direction in Audiology practice.

EFAS and the GA Training Model (2)EFAS and the GA Training Model (2)

EFAS Brief Definition for EAT: EFAS Brief Definition for EAT: ‘Audiology deals with function and dysfunction of the auditory system’. The services provided to hearing impaired people deal with:

DiagnosticsAuditory (re)habilitationCommunication/communication disordersPreventionResearch and teaching

EFAS and the GA Training Model (3)EFAS and the GA Training Model (3)

Pyramid approach:

Basic level: General Audiologist (practically oriented),

level: university degree training, (B.Aud, M.Aud)3 years theoretical + 1 yr practicalGA may migrate to Audiological Specialist by

specialisation in additional field

Higher level: Audiological Specialist, level: university degree (clinically oriented) with

graduate specialisation:Other professions with related specialisation

(e.g. medical, educational degree)

EFAS and the GA Training Model (4)EFAS and the GA Training Model (4)

Tasks/competencies for GA Tasks/competencies for GA listed…listed…

E.g. DiagnosticsPsychoacoustic Psychoacoustic

methods/Electrophysiological testsmethods/Electrophysiological testsPaediatric testsPaediatric tests

(Re)habilitationHearing devices/ Other measures:

including communication, screening & management aspects…

and so on for each task area, including elements of research and political/funding aspects of service.

Curriculum proposals for GA (1)Curriculum proposals for GA (1)

3 years of theoretical studies: 25% basic sciences, 25% medical and diagnostic audiology, 25% technical and environmental

audiology, 25% psychosocial audiology and

educational issues, communication repair methods, general skills and specialisation

1 year of practical studies.

Changes to European Training?Changes to European Training?U.K. B.Sc. Degree programmes as discussed, with similar U.K. B.Sc. Degree programmes as discussed, with similar

structure to GA outline.structure to GA outline.Portugal: Started 4-year honours degree programme in Audiology Portugal: Started 4-year honours degree programme in Audiology

in 1999, (on a clinical sciences basis), in Porto. Visit: in 1999, (on a clinical sciences basis), in Porto. Visit: http://www.estsp.pt/id75.htmhttp://www.estsp.pt/id75.htm

Denmark: course in Oldenburg University: ‘Denmark: course in Oldenburg University: ‘Hearing Technology & Audiology’ developed along GA model, with co-operation ’ developed along GA model, with co-operation between Danish, German, Netherlander, other Scandinavian between Danish, German, Netherlander, other Scandinavian and UK courses taking place…. and UK courses taking place….

Many other Scandinavian Audiology programmes already exist, Many other Scandinavian Audiology programmes already exist, usually within the Medical Faculties…usually within the Medical Faculties…

Note: EFAS not Note: EFAS not directlydirectly involved in Education, but EFAS members involved in Education, but EFAS members often involved in new Programmes.often involved in new Programmes.

SUMMARYSUMMARYEFAS recognises that American/S.African/ Mediterranean

‘combined’ Logopedics Degree’ models are widely used; (Northern) European trend towards medical and/or more technical Audiology, distinct from ENT.

This model encourages ‘Hearing Aid’ professionals in public & private practice, who could then acquire better technical skills and become degree-based European profession.

GA model may contribute to more gender-balanced Audiology profession than ‘Logopedic’ model, due to more ‘technical’ basis of undergraduate programme.

Position not exclusive; countries have different health & training structures, requiring different professional development for local needs.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS…SUGGESTED QUESTIONS…1. Should the ultimate aim of all countries be a doctorate standard for 1. Should the ultimate aim of all countries be a doctorate standard for

the main professional grouping in Audiology, or a degree standard?the main professional grouping in Audiology, or a degree standard?2. Are the needs of public and private sector Audiology systems of 2. Are the needs of public and private sector Audiology systems of

training fundamentally similar, or must they stay separate?training fundamentally similar, or must they stay separate?3. How is research being affected by changing to:3. How is research being affected by changing to:a)a) B.Sc. Audiology as in UK orB.Sc. Audiology as in UK orb)b) Au.D. courses as in USAAu.D. courses as in USAc)c) Other European approaches eg Scandinavia with mainly M.A. Other European approaches eg Scandinavia with mainly M.A.

profession?profession?4. Can structure and status of Audiology profession ever be established 4. Can structure and status of Audiology profession ever be established

throughout Europe, given relative strength of medical professions throughout Europe, given relative strength of medical professions there?there?

5. How and when will the Bologna declaration impact upon Audiology 5. How and when will the Bologna declaration impact upon Audiology professionals?professionals?

6) How should Audiology fit in, in relation to other related professions? 6) How should Audiology fit in, in relation to other related professions? Should we strengthen medical, technical or rehabilitative aspects of Should we strengthen medical, technical or rehabilitative aspects of our profession?our profession?

7) Will ‘Audiology Assistants’ require a standardised training and task 7) Will ‘Audiology Assistants’ require a standardised training and task set in order to complement Audiologists?set in order to complement Audiologists?