Kunde HR

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Outcomes of the Rauischholzhausen Workshop on
"European Audiology Training" in 1999
Jürgen Kießling Justus-Liebig-University Gießen
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Workshop on European Audiology
Training Rauischholzhausen/JLU Gießen, October
11-13, 1999 33 delegates from 15
European countries discussed and developed a
concept of audiology professions in
Europe, particularly the General Audiologist
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Definition of Audiology Audiology in terms of
this paper deals with function and dysfunction
of the auditory system. The services
provided to hearing impaired people deal
with 1. Diagnostics 2. Auditory
(re)habilitation 3. Communication/communication
disorders 4. Prevention 5. Research and
teaching Audiology deals with the knowledge,
protection and rehabilitation of human hearing,
inclusive of the effects of pharmacological and
surgical measures, but exclusive of matters
relating to the techniques of these measures.
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• Definition of General Audiologist
• Basic level General Audiologist (practically
  oriented)
• Level university degree training, (B.Aud, M.Aud)
• Entrance level qualification for
  university/polytechnic
• 3 years of theoretical studies
• 25 basic sciences
• 25 medical and diagnostic audiology
• 25 technical and environmental audiology
• 25 psychosocial audiology and educational
  issues etc.
• - Practical orientation by 1 year practical
  training
• GA may migrate to Audiological Specialist by
  specialisation in an additional field
• High level Audiological Specialist
• Level university degree (clinically oriented)
  with specialisation on graduate level
• Other professions with specialisation in
  audiology (medical,
• physical, educational degree)

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General Audiologist (GA) embedded in a network of
Audiological Specialists
Audiological Specialists (with different
backgrounds)
Duration of education/ Level of
competence/ deepness of approach/ Number of
persons employed
Other disciplines
Other disciplines
General Audiologist
Width across disciplines
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General Audiologist embedded in a network of
Audiological Specialists
Teacher of the deaf
Non-medical audiological scientist
ENT doctor
Psychologist psychotherapist
General Audiologist
Social worker
Medical audiological expert
Hearing therapist
Hearing aid acoustician/ dispenser
Audiology technician
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• Tasks the GA should be able to perform
• Diagnostics
• (Re)habilitation
• Educational audiology
• Occupational issues
• Financial matters, compensation issues
• Follow up
• Counselling (of patients and other professionals)
  
• Research in a team
• Assessment of audiological procedures and
  services
• Counselling of general public
• The GA should also have sufficient knowledge
  about the need
• for referral to those more specialised in these
  tasks.

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• Proposal for a curriculum (Minimal training
  requirements)
• Basic sciences
• Medical audiology
• Diagnostic audiology
• Technical audiology
• Environmental audiology
• Psychosocial audiology and educational issues
• General professional skills
• Practical work (1 year)
• - Project work
• - Thesis work (6 months/minimum 3 months)
• - Practical work with patients (minimum 6 months)

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General Audiologist Status 2008 9 years after
the workshop and 7 years after approval by
EFAS 1. The of the General Audiologist is a
perfect platform to improve - formal training in
audiology and - audiological services for the
hearing impaired in Europe 2. Some countries
have started programs according to the GA concept
and other countries will follow 3. However, not
in all countries the graduates of theses programs
are not given the responsibility to actually work
as General Audiologist in the national health
system.