Course Descriptions
Neuroscience of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
5000
Credits: 1.5
Presentation of what is known of the representation of sound intensity in the normal auditory system and discusses possible causes and mechanisms of abnormal representations which can give rise to tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. The latest experimental data and models, reviewed in these lectures, are increasing our knowledge of the characteristics of this hyperactivity, how it develops, and where in the brain it is interpreted as phantom sound (tinnitus) or abnormally loud sound (hyperacusis).
Assessment Techniques in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
5001
Credits: 1.5
Covers the range measurement techniques sensitive to tinnitus and hyperacusis, products used in clinical trials and appropriate tools used in measuring disability for compensation and benefits.
Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: Rehabilitation and Management
5002
Credits: 1.5
Covers the variety of approaches used to treat tinnitus and hyperacusis. The problems experienced by patients will be reviewed and include philosophical considerations related to counseling approaches. The Cognitive Behavior Therapy approach proposed by Jane Henry and Peter Wilson will be reviewed. University of Iowa Tinnitus Activities Treatment procedure (focus on the primary effects of thoughts and emotions, hearing, sleep and concentration), will be discussed. Students will learn a wide range of sound therapies, including strategies for hearing aids. There will be a review of the evidence of effectiveness.
Professional Issues: Setting Up a Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic
5003
Credits: 1.5
Reviews important steps in establishing and operating an audiology clinic for the delivery of services-specifically to patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis. Topics include critical role of the audiologist in assessment and management of children and adults with bothersome tinnitus and/or hyperacusis; guidelines for referral of patients to other healthcare professions; equipment and protocols used in diagnostic assessment of tinnitus; primary and specialized options for intervention; clinical operational topics such as scheduling, billing, and coding clinical services. Clinical case examples provided as a tool to illustrate clinical practices and procedures commonly utilized with patients with chief complaint of tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. After successful completion of this course, the student should acquire a working knowledge that will facilitate the successful operation of a tinnitus/hyperacusis clinic.
Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: Controversies, Pitfalls and Prospects for Progress
5004
Credits: 1.5
Identifies a number of important issues and controversies in tinnitus and hyperacusis research. Students given an unbiased and critical look at: latest methodologies used in tinnitus/hyperacusis research; often competing ideas for the neural substrates of tinnitus/hyperacusis; prospects for effective therapies and even cures.
Public Health and Medical Issues in the Management of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
5005
Credits: 1.5
Reviews public health issues in tinnitus and hyperacusis including cross-cultural differences in prevalence, racial and ethnic distribution of tinnitus and hyperacusis, the impact of tinnitus and hyperacusis on quality of life, preventive measures, and changing demographics over time within society. A portion of the course deals with the important topic of medical issues in the management of tinnitus, such as primary care physician awareness and knowledge of tinnitus, diagnostic procedures and management options available to otolaryngologists, evidence-based medical therapies for tinnitus and hyperacusis, drugs associated with the onset or increased perception of tinnitus, and diseases for which hyperacusis may be a symptom. The course includes guest lectures by an otolaryngologist and an audiologist with specialization in public health issues.
