01. Describe the nature of sound waves and their fundamental dimensions.

Activities:

1. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) introduction to acoustics - the nature of sound, simple harmonic motion and pure tones; (ii) characteristics of sound waves - wavelength, frequency, amplitude, phase; (iii) additive synthesis and complex periodic waves; (iv) aperiodic waves - noises and transients; (v) time and frequency-domain analysis of sound - waveforms and spectra. Additional information (notes, websites, animations and an interactive 'additive synthesis demo' application) provided on the LMS/lab computers. Worksheet of practice problems (not assessed). Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

02. Communicate an understanding of sound intensity, sound pressure, and how they are related.

Activities:

2. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) amplitude, acoustic power and sound intensity; (ii) the decibel scale; (iii) sound pressure and the relationship between dB IL and dB SPL; (iv) combining sound intensities; (v) weighting scales. Additional information (notes, websites) provided on the LMS. Worksheet of practice problems (not assessed). Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

03. Communicate an understanding of the concept of resonance, and how resonance applies to the production of vowels in speech.

Activities:

3. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) resonance, quarter-wavelength resonators; (ii) anatomy of the vocal organs and vocal tract resonance; (iii) the source-filter model of speech production; (iv) formants, spectrograms, voiced and unvoiced consonants and connected speech. Spectrogram assignment - students will carry out a spectrographic analysis of their own speech, discussing the role of resonance in formant production, and submit a written report documenting their results. Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

Discipline Specific Competencies(Discipline Specific Competencies)

04. Synthesise an understanding of the principles of filtering, sound analysis, sound transmission and room acoustics.

Activities:

4. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) parameters of a filter; (ii) types of filters, including the octave filter; (iii) specification of level at the output of filters; (iv) filters and white/pink noise; (v) inverse square law; (vi) feflection and standing waves; (vii) absorption and reverberation time; (viii) refraction and diffraction. Worksheet of practice problems (not assessed). Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

05. Incorporate an understanding of the concept of impedance in clinical audiology.

Activities:

5. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) mechanical and acoustical impedance; (ii) compliant and mass reactance; (iii) inverse quantities (admittance, conductance, susceptance); (iv) volume velocity and middle ear impedance. Tympanometry assignment - students will work in pairs to produce a two-page information handout on the diagnostic utility of multi-component/multi-frequency tympanometry. Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Communication(Communication)

Discipline Specific Competencies(Discipline Specific Competencies)

Writing(Writing)

06. Evaluate feedback, distortion, and calibrate transducers transducers.

Activities:

6. Lecture and workshop classes. Linearity/nonlinearity: (ii) distortion, clipping and feedback; (iii) loudspeakers, hearing aid receivers, microphones, bone conductors; (iv) calibration of sensitivity and frequency response; (v) audiometric standards. Additional information (readings, websites) provided on the LMS. Components of a written examination.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

Discipline Specific Competencies(Discipline Specific Competencies)

07. Measure perception in audiology, using principles of psychoacoustics.

Activities:

7. Lecture and workshop classes: (i) psychophysical measurement techniques and signal detection theory; (ii) loudness perception; (iii) frequency resolution and masking; (iv pitch perception; (v) binaural hearing.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Discipline Specific Competencies(Discipline Specific Competencies)

Writing(Writing)