COURSE OVERVIEW:

Hearing loss is defined as diminished acuity to sounds which would otherwise be heard normally. The terms hearing impaired or hard of hearing are usually reserved for people who have relative inability to hear sound in the speech frequencies. The severity of hearing loss is categorised according to the increase in intensity of sound above the usual level required for the listener to detect it.

Hearing loss may be present at birth or acquired at any time afterwards. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to acquire spoken language, and in adults it can create difficulties with social interaction and at work. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Hearing loss related to age usually affects both ears and is due to cochlear hair cell loss. In some people, particularly older people, hearing loss can result in loneliness. Deaf people usually have little to no hearing.

Hearing loss may be caused by a number of factors, including: genetics, ageing, exposure to noise, some infections, birth complications, trauma to the ear, and certain medications or toxins. A common condition that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections. Certain infections during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus, syphilis and rubella, may also cause hearing loss in the child.

About half of hearing loss globally is preventable through public health measures. Such practices include immunisation, proper care around pregnancy, avoiding loud noise, and avoiding certain medications.

Early identification and support are particularly important in children. For many, hearing aids, sign language, cochlear implants and subtitles are useful. Lip reading is another useful skill some develop. Access to hearing aids, however, is limited in many areas of the world.

Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their ‘disabling’ hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people – or one in every ten people – will have disabling hearing loss. 

This course starts by explaining what hearing disorders are and the different types of hearing disorders. Then shows the history of hearing disorders. Then discusses how people can live comfortably with a hearing disorder. Finally, shows ways to communicate effectively with people with hearing loss and discusses the Do’s and Don’ts when meeting and interacting with people with hearing disorders.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What does hearing disorders mean?
• The two different kinds of hearing loss
• How hearing works?
• The different types of hearing disorders
• How the ear transforms sound waves into sound?
• The function of the outer ear
• The function of the middle ear
• The function of the inner ear
• Why do people have two ears?
• The hearing system
• The conductive hearing loss and its causes
• The sensorineural hearing loss and its causes
• The mixed hearing loss and its causes
• How the hearing system keeps the body balanced?
• The vestibular system
• The hard of hearing
• The phantom noise
• The different types of hearing tests
• The auditory brain stem response test
• The symptoms of hearing loss
• The history of hearing disorders in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
• The history of hearing disorders in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
• The silent signals in sports
• How to live with a hearing disorder?
• How loud is too loud?
• The electronic helpers
• The animal helpers
• How to protect your ears?
• The automatic speech recognition system
• How the automatic speech recognition works?
• The popular hearing aids
• The CROS aid
• A bone conduction aid
• The cochlear implants
• The brain stem implants
• Ways to communicate with people with hearing loss
• The Do’s and Don’ts when meeting and interacting with people with hearing disorders

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.