Educating audiologists in South Africa: internationally recognized specialists or locally relevent generalists? A pilot study investigating the perceived adequacy of undergraduate programmes in South Africa and the need for educational reform
Date
2008-06-24T11:17:30Z
Authors
Wemmer, Kathleen
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Abstract
The demands made on the profession of audiology by substantial theoretical, clinical and
technological developments are extensive, resulting in an increased and specialised scope of
practice. Professional bodies and tertiary institutions in the United States have responded to
these demands by suggesting that the Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) be made the
minimal entry-level into the profession. In South Africa, the minimum entry-level into the
profession is a 4-year professional undergraduate degree. No consensus regarding how to
deal with the demands of an increasing scope of practice has been reached and as a result
there is currently a lack of consistency in training programmes and registration with the
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). While the HPCSA recognizes speechlanguage
pathology and audiology as independent and autonomous professions, the two
occupations are inextricably linked due to the historical evolution of training programmes in
South Africa. This study investigated the perceptions of audiologists regarding the adequacy
of undergraduate academic and clinical training in audiology and questioned the need for
educational reform. A parallel study, which used the same research tool, documented an
audit of audiological service delivery (Naidoo, 2006). A total of 284 responses (a response
rate of 18.93%) were obtained from a self-administered postal questionnaire sent to
professionals registered with the HPCSA. The sample was representative of all universities
offering undergraduate training programmes and professionals working in all provinces. All
workplaces were represented with an equal distribution between audiologists employed in
the private and public sectors. Results of the study indicated that undergraduate training
programmes were perceived as not providing adequate training in the fields of amplification,
vestibular testing, practice management, supervision and the audiological management of
persons infected with HIV/AIDS. The results of an audit of service delivery (Naidoo, 2006)
confirmed that the majority of audiologists perform only basic testing and few provide
advanced diagnostic services. The results of this study showed that audiologists felt most
adequately prepared for basic audiology procedures and paediatric audiology, but only
somewhat prepared for diagnostic testing and amplification. The majority of respondents
indicated that they intend to maintain dual-registration with the HPCSA through Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) and would prefer to study an undergraduate degree in
speech-language pathology and audiology as opposed to a degree in speech-language
pathology or audiology. Respondents were unable to identify core areas of audiology that
were appropriate to be taught at undergraduate degree. The United States model of a
Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (AuD) was rejected as the majority of respondents expressed
the opinion that an undergraduate degree is appropriate as an entry-level into the profession
of audiology.
The results of the research are felt to be an accurate depiction of the status quo of the
profession of audiology in South Africa, and do not negate the need for educational reform. .
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Keywords
Audiologists, Education, South Africa, Training