Computer Science - Burlington County College

Hearing Instrument Sciences
Associate of Applied Science, (AAS.HRS)
The Hearing Instrument Sciences Program provides both an
academic and clinical experience that will enable students to
develop the knowledge and skills necessary for successful
employment within the spectrum of care, and licensed scope of
practice, of a Hearing Aid Dispenser. Competencies developed will
include the evaluation of the range of human hearing, the making
of ear impressions, the cleaning and alteration of earmolds, the
adaptation of hearing aids, and the physical examination of a
person’s ear in conjunction with the dispensing of hearing aids.
Content areas of the academic component include anatomy
and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems, communication
and communication disorders, acoustics and psychoacoustics,
auditory rehabilitation, patient counseling and
communication dynamics, and legal and ethical responsibilities.
Experience at the clinical setting and lab is required for
successful completion in competency based clinical areas of
auditory assessment and hearing aid selection, fitting, verification,
outcome assessment and infection control.
The program develops graduates who will provide hearing
healthcare services ethically, and in accordance with State
practice regulations. It is anticipated that graduates would,
upon successful completion of their degree, sit for both the
practical and written state licensing exam. A primary function
of the program is to teach the theoretical background and the
laboratory skills to prepare graduates for successful passage of
their State boards.
Licensed Hearing Instrument Dispensers find a variety of professional
employment opportunities including independent
contracted employment, professional consulting, and the
establishment and the technical support of related professional
and private practice patient services.
Additional Available Benefit
The American Conference on Audioprosthology (ACA) is the
only academic professional recognition in hearing instrument
sciences in the United States. Completion of the Hearing
Instrument Sciences Program at BCC qualifies a graduate to
apply for ACA designation through the International Institute for
Hearing Instrument Studies. Following a successful clinical
portfolio review by the ACA and the attainment of two years of
professional experience, the BCC Hearing Instrument Sciences
Program graduate will be entitled to use the professional
designator “ACA” after his or her name.
Interested applicants should obtain a Hearing Instrument
Sciences Program Admission Information booklet and plan on
attending an information session.
Graduates of this program should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the scope of
professional services provided by Licensed Hearing
Instrument Dispensers;
Establish the best practice of integration of hearing
health care team services for optimum patient outcomes;
www.bcc.edu
Illustrate an understanding of the physical attributes of
sound and their psychological correlates, characteristics
of sound transmission and propagation, ear canal and
earmold acoustics;
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic psychoacoustic
methods and their applications in measuring such auditory
phenomena as threshold, differential sensitivity, frequencypitch
relationships, intensity-loudness relationships,
masking and binaural hearing;
Demonstrate sound practice in acquiring and recording
patient medical histories, including appropriate areas of
inquiry and methods of eliciting information;
Exhibit proper techniques for otoscopy (examining the
external canal and tympanic membrane of the ear),
and for pure tone audiometry including air and bone
conduction, masking, and knowledge of calibration
and infection control techniques;
Display knowledge with the processes of auditory
habilitation and rehabilitation and the role of the
Hearing Instrument Specialist in this process.
General Education Courses † Credits
Written & Oral Communications 6
Mathematics (MTH 113 recommended) 3
Natural Science (BIO 110/111 required) 4
Social Science (PSY 101 required) 3
Arts & Humanities (PHI 101 required)
Additional General Education Requirements
3
(SOC 101 required) 3
Total 22
† See General Education Requirements on page 43.
Program Courses Credits
HRS 101 Introduction to Applied Hearing Sciences 1
HRS 110 Acoustics and Psychoacoustics 4
HRS 120 Anatomy and Physiology of the
Auditory and Vestibular Systems 3
HRS 130 Professional Patient Counseling and
Communication Dynamics 3
HRS 140 Communication and
Communication Disorders 3
HRS 150 Legal and Ethical Responsibilities 2
HRS 200 Hearing Assessment I 4
HRS 205 Hearing Assessment II 4
HRS 210 Hearing Instrument Technology I 4
HRS 215 Hearing Instrument Technology II 4
HRS 230 Auditory Rehabilitation 3
HRS 250 Clinical Practicum and Externship 4
Total 39
Electives 3-4
Total Required for Degree 64-65
113