Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Diploma in Hearing Therapy (Level 6)
Version
1
Qualification type
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
120
NZSCED
090511
Society and Culture > Human Welfare Studies and Services >
Community Client Care
DAS classification
453
Community and Social Services > Health, Disability, and Aged
Support
Qualification developer
Careerforce
Next review
December 2019
Approval date
May 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the hearing sector
with a specialised hearing therapy workforce focussed on the
application of aural rehabilitation practice, including technical
knowledge and skills, in clinical and community settings.
This qualification is targeted at people seeking to further develop
their knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of Hearing
Therapy. It may also be suitable for graduates of higher level
qualifications in Human Services oriented fields who wish to
specialise in Hearing Therapy.
Graduates of this qualification will work independently, leading
and coordinating an individualised quality service for people who
have hearing impairment to enable them to manage the impact
of that impairment in their lives to the best of their abilities.
Graduates who have gained the New Zealand Diploma in
Hearing Therapy (level 6), and completed the relevant postgraduation and on-going practical requirements, will be eligible to
apply for full membership of the Hearing Therapists Association
of New Zealand.
Graduate profile
Graduates will be able to:
1. Measure functional capability and assess the physical and
psychosocial impact of hearing impairment on a person’s life
using culturally appropriate values, processes and protocols.
2. Analyse assessment results in terms of the impact on the life
of a person, to lead and coordinate the design,
implementation and evaluation of an individual aural
rehabilitation plan.
Outcome Statement
3. Provide a specialist service that enables people with hearing
impairment to manage the impact of that impairment.
Qualification Reference 2859
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
4. Be fully accountable for own learning and professional
practice in complex and dynamic contexts/systems to provide
a constantly improving, customised outcome-focused service.
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Education pathway
The qualification provides pathway for people:
- to further develop their knowledge, skills and abilities in the
field of hearing therapy; and to progress within the health and
disability qualifications framework;
- already holding other qualifications in a Human Service
related field, seeking to specialise in Hearing Therapy.
Graduates may continue on an educational pathway that may
progress to a specialised clinical qualification (such as Masters
in Audiology, or Master of Speech and Language Pathology - via
a relevant undergraduate degree) or further specialisation in
sensory rehabilitation, such as working with people who are
deafblind.
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification may obtain employment as:
- Hearing Therapist in public or private settings
- Rehabilitationist in Cochlear Implant programmes
- Hearing Assessor in the area of occupational health
- Service Coordinator for the Deaf
This qualification may also be suitable for people working in the
following occupations:
- Advisors for Deaf Children
- Audiometrists
- Auditory-verbal therapists
- Speech Language therapists
- Counsellors
- Diversional Therapists
- Ear nurse specialists
- Employment support
- Hearing Therapists
- Industrial Hearing Tester
- Needs Assessment and Service Coordinators
- Nurses
- Social Workers
- Teachers
- Vision Hearing Screeners
- Newborn Hearing Screeners
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
Qualification Reference 2859
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
This qualification will be awarded by Careerforce as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of
the Industry Training Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by a tertiary education
organisation (TEO) accredited under section 250 of the
Education Act 1989 to deliver an approved programme leading
to this qualification.
The certificate will display the title of the qualification, the logo of
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NZQA and the name and/or logo of the awarding organisation.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
All tertiary education organisations (TEOs) either arranging
training or delivering programmes that lead to the award of this
qualification are required to participate, along with the
qualification developer, in a scheduled consistency process led
by NZQA, in accordance with published national guidelines.
This consistency process will involve reviewing evidence
associated with graduates’ achievement of outcomes,
establishing a periodic cycle for a review focus for the external
consistency review, agreeing acceptable standards and/or
benchmarks for qualification outcome achievement, and
identifying areas for improvement.
Evidence for programme providers may include:
•
•
•
•
•
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Assessment information leading to the achievement of the
graduate outcomes.
A portfolio of student work relating to the qualification.
Stakeholder feedback on outcome achievement which may
include feedback from graduates, end-users, and/or next
users.
TEO moderation outcomes which may include
moderation/benchmarking across common programmes.
Relevant External Evaluation and Review (EER) data.
The criteria of Consent and Moderation Requirements
(CMR) document 0024 for unit standard-based programmes.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
Achievement of all outcomes is required.
There are no grade endorsements for this qualification.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet
regulatory body or legislative
requirements)
It is anticipated that people undertaking this qualification will
have best chances of success if they hold a relevant tertiary
qualification or have core skills and knowledge that apply to the
health and disability workforce.
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
Qualification Reference 2859
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
There is an expectation that industry training programmes
leading to this qualification will be completed in a workplace.
For programmes of study that are offered by an education
provider, a formal arrangement must be in place whereby a
learner is able to demonstrate achievement of the outcomes in
an appropriate practical environment.
Learners undertaking a programme leading to this qualification
must have access to a minimum 15 hours per week of practical
work with adults with hearing impairment, under the supervision
of a qualified hearing professional.
The achievement of practical outcomes must demonstrate the
integration of theory and practice.
Organisations seeking approval to award the qualification are
expected to have recognition of current competency or
recognition of prior learning assessment processes in place.
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Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1
Measure functional capability and
assess the physical and
psychosocial impact of hearing
impairment on a person’s life using
culturally appropriate values,
processes and protocols.
15 Credits
Conditions
This outcome includes working with the person’s
significant communication partners within family/whānau,
vocational, recreational and social contexts using an
inter-disciplinary, holistic approach.
Programmes leading to award of this qualification must
include the identification of appropriate resources that
are appropriate for the client e.g. language interpreter,
and a referral pathway that accommodates socio-cultural
differences and preferences.
The aspects of life affected by hearing impairment may
include but are not limited to: function, activity,
participation and wellbeing, with a focus on life
opportunities and perceived quality of life.
2
Analyse assessment results in
terms of the impact on the life of a
person, to lead and coordinate the
design, implementation and
evaluation of an individual aural
rehabilitation plan.
15 Credits
The development and content of the individual aural
rehabilitation plan is client-centred and client-led, and
must:
- include the involvement of significant
communication partners
- demonstrate understanding and application of
currently-accepted aural rehabilitation principles.
3
Provide a specialist service that
enables people with hearing
impairment to manage the impact
of that impairment.
The impact of the hearing impairment is to be managed
by reducing limitations and enhancing the person’s
participation in their chosen activities through maximising
their communication abilities, with or without assistive
technology.
70 Credits
Programmes leading to award of this qualification must
include:
- Anatomy and physiology of the ear and the hearing
process
- Otoscopy and pure tone screening audiometry
- Aural rehabilitation theory and its application,
including assessment procedures, analysis of the
physical and psychosocial impact and strategies
and adaptations to manage impact
- Function, application and care of hearing
instruments and other hearing assistive technology.
- Training of people with a hearing impairment and
their significant communication partners in speech
reading, auditory training, communication and
adaptive strategies
- Speech production and speech perception.
- Personal adjustment and informational counselling
- Strategies for management of the psychosocial
impact of tinnitus, Meniere’s Disease and
hyperacusis.
- Education in the prevention of noise-induced
hearing loss and current legislation in relation to
noise exposure.
Qualification Reference 2859
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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Qualification outcomes
Conditions
4
Programmes leading to award of this qualification must
include but are not limited to:
Be fully accountable for own
learning and professional practice
in complex and dynamic
contexts/systems to provide a
constantly improving, customised
outcomes-focused service.
20 Credits
- The principles and application of professional
practice
- Demonstration of knowledge and management of
risks and daily living challenges for people with
hearing impairment
- Demonstration of knowledge and management of
the hearing needs of the older person
- Demonstration of knowledge of relevant legislation
and policies and related health and social service
systems
- Demonstration of knowledge of ethical issues and
practice
-
Application of cultural responsiveness in the aural
rehabilitation context
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the National Diploma in Hearing
Therapy [Ref: 1007]
Learners currently enrolled in programmes leading to the replaced qualification Ref: 1007, may either
complete the requirements by 31 December 2019, or undertake credit recognition process to transfer
their results to this replacement qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification will be 31 December
2016.
Existing learners should not be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who
considers they have been disadvantaged by these transition arrangements may appeal to the owner
of the programme leading to award of the qualification.
Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation Limited (Careerforce)
PO Box 2637
Wellington 6140
Telephone
04 915 7704 or 0800 277 486
Facsimile
03 371 9285
Email
info@careerforce.org.nz
Website
www.careerforce.org.nz
Qualification Reference 2859
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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