COURSE OUTLINE
CSD 9513a ACOUSTICS & INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS FOR AUDIOLOGY
The University of Western Ontario, Fall Semester, 2015
Instructors:
Susan Scollie, Ph.D., Room 2262H (NCA), ext 88948
scollie@nca.uwo.ca
Vijay Parsa, Ph.D., Room 2262E (NCA), ext 88947
parsa@nca.uwo.ca
Office hours: by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Parvaneh Abbasalipour (pabbasal@uwo.ca)
Classes:
Lab:
Tuesday, 9:30 to 11:00, Room EC 2508
Thursday, 9:30 to 11:00, Room EC 2508
Alternating (with labs for CSD 9512a) Fridays, Starkey Lab (EC 2266)
or computer lab (EC 1555)
8:30 to 11:30 AM, 3 one hour blocks or single group session depending on activity.
Overview and Purpose of Course:
Audiology equipment uses electronic signal generators and processors to make sounds of different
frequencies and levels for use in testing the ear and hearing. In this course, we will cover the fundamentals
of acoustics, electronics, and electroacoustics, and use these to describe the structure and function of clinical
audiometers, transducers, and sound level meters. We will apply these concepts in reviewing international
standards for calibration of clinical equipment as well as general procedures for equipment troubleshooting.
In labs, you will use signal generation and processing software and calibration equipment, and learn to
evaluate whether clinical equipment is functioning and in calibration.
Required Texts:
Yost, W.A. (2006). Fundamentals of Hearing Science, 5th edition. (Note: this text is also required for CSD
9512a)
Gelfand, S.A. (2009). Essentials of Audiology (3rd Edition), Thieme 2009. ISBN: 9781604060447.
(Note: this text is also required for CSD 9510y)
Required Readings (will be posted to OWL):
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (1991). Sound Field Measurement Tutorial.
ASHA, 33 (Suppl.3), 25-37. [http://www.asha.org/docs/html/RP1991-00025.html]
Brüel & Kjær (1996). Microphone Handbook.
Brüel & Kjær (1984). Measuring Sound.
Fedtke, T., Grason, L. (2014). Sound Level Calibration: Microphones, Ear Simulators, Couplers, and
Sound Level Meters. In Seminars in Hearing (Vol. 35, No. 04, pp. 295-311). Thieme Medical
Publishers.
Lankford J.E., Hopkins, C.M. (2000). Ambient Noise Levels in Nursing Homes: Implications for
Audiometric Assessment American Journal of Audiology, 9, 30-35.
Kardous, C. A., & Shaw, P. B. (2014). Evaluation of smartphone sound measurement applications. The
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 135(4), EL186-EL192.
Kuk F, Crose B, Korhonen P, Kyhn T, Mørkebjerg M, Rank ML, Kidmose P, Jensen MH, Larsen SM,
Ungstrup M. Digital wireless hearing aids, Part 1: A primer. Hearing Review. 2010;17(3):5467.
Speaks, C. (1999). Frequency-selective systems : Filters. Introduction to Sound – 3rd edition.
Singular Publishing Group, San Diego, USA.
Recommended Readings (Optional)
Davis, R. R. (2006). Acoustic Measurement: A tutorial for molecular biologists. Brain Research,
1091, 32-39.
Dean, M.S., Martin, F.N. (2000). Insert earphone depth and the occlusion effect. American Journal of
Audiology, 9, 131 – 134. http://journals.asha.org
Online Resources:
1. Above readings, including an eBook from Decker & Carrell, on this course’s WebCT area or from
UWO library
2. Dall, Ray. Electronics 101. http://www.electronicstheory.com/COURSES/ELECTRONICS/e101-1.htm
(fundamentals of electricity, resistors & capacitors, series & parallel circuits)
3. Java applets demonstrating acoustics and electronics from:
http://www.falstad.com/mathphysics.html
4. http://www.howstuffworks.com/diode.htm/printable (How do semiconductors work?)
5. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/amplifier.htm/printable (How do amplifiers work?)
6. http://www.falstad.com/dfilter/ (Digital filter demo)
7. www.rane.com/digi-dic.html (An online dictionary of acoustic and electroacoustic
terminology)
8. http://support.radioshack.com//support_tutorials/audio_video/audfaq-1.htm
Assignments & Evaluation
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Lab Assignments
40%
40%
20%
October 29, 2015, in class.
During exam period.
NOTE: You are required to attend all “Manufacturer Presentations” on audiometric equipment (specific
schedule TBA). You are welcome to attend the remaining sessions even though they are not required for
this course.
Academic Integrity: Students are reminded that they are required to follow the standards of scholarship
within the University community. Students are encouraged to review the standards and the definition
of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_grad.pdf
The standards include, but are not limited to, proper citation of sources of information. Students are
encouraged to learn together, but are required to generate their own written work and cite and give credit
to, where necessary, the sources and authors of information (i.e., do not plagiarize). Scholastic offences are
taken seriously.
Electronic devices: Active pagers, cell phones, laptops, and/or internet connections including email are
not allowed in class unless instructors indicate they are to be used in a specific classroom activity.
Accessibility: Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if any
other arrangements can make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services
for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ssd/ or 519-661-2111 ext. 82147 for any
specific question regarding an accommodation.
Support Services:
Office of the Registrar, http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/
Student Development Centre, http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/
USC Student Support Services, http://westernusc.ca/services/
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health @ Western,
http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health/, for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Lecture and Lab Schedule (subject to adjustment) Colour key
indicates primary instructor:
Susan Scollie
Date
Topic
Vijay Parsa
Lab
Guest
Location
Readings

Thurs,
Sept 10
Course Introduction and
Overview
Tues,
Sept 15
Overview of Equipment in an
Audiology Clinic
Thurs,
Sept 17
Structure and Function of
Sound Booths
Tues,
Sept 22
Fundamentals of electricity
Thurs,
Sept 24
Basic electrical circuits
Tues,
Sept 29
Amplifiers & active circuits
Thurs,
Oct 1
Digital Signal Processing
Tues,
Oct 6
Digital filters, transfer functions and
frequency response
Thurs,
Oct 8
Transducer functions and
specifications
Tues,
Oct 13
Thurs,
Oct 15
Tues,
Oct 20
Thurs,
Oct 22
Connectors, W ires, & Safety
(David Grainger, NCA)
Orientation lab
(Sept. 11)
Apps for Audiologists

Equipment introduction at beginning of
Gelfand (2009) Chapters 4, 7, 8, 11
(figures 11.2, 11.14, 11.17, 11.19).

Gelfand (2009) Chapter 4, focus on
“Audiological Testing Rooms” section.


Dall, pages 1 – 6, page 30
Decker & Carrell, Chapter 1

Dall, pages 8 – 12

Howstuffworks – Semiconductors &
Amplifiers
Dillon (pp 28 – 33)
Decker & Carrell, Chapters 6 and 10
No Lab, Sept.18
(CSD 9512 Lab)
Circuits Lab
(Sept. 26)
No Lab, Oct 2
EC1555,
Computer Lab


(CSD 9512 Lab)
DSP Lab
(Oct. 9)
No Lab, Oct, 16
(CSD 9512 lab)
Wireless Technologies
Sound level meters, measurement
of sound intensity and spectral
shape
Starkey Lab 
Review requirements for the term, obtain
readings and textbook.
Note conceptual relationship between
this course and Principles of Clinical
Audiometry and Acoustics, Perception,
and the Auditory System, both also this
term.


EC 1555, 
Computer Lab 


Digital sections in Dillon (pp 34-36)
Decker & Carrell Ch 4 (till Pg 63)
Digital filter demo online
Speaks (1999)
Fedtke & Grason (2014)
Brüel & Kjær “Microphones”, Chapter 3 up
to Section 3.5

http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/conn
ection/ OR
http://www.tracertek.com/media/pdf/audi
ocabletutorial.pdf





Hands on with
Connectors and
Wires
(DG)
(Oct. 23)
EC 1555, 

computer lab
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gad
gets/audio-music/wirelessspeakers2.htm
Levitt (2001)
Kuk et al. (2014)
Fedtke & Grason (2014)
Brüel & Kjær “Measuring Sound”
Kardous & Shaw (2014)
Tues,
Oct 27
Review
Thurs,
Oct 29
Midterm – in class
Tues,
Nov 3
Evaluating noise levels in the test
environment, insert phone noise
attenuation. Daily checks.
No Lab
Daily equipment
checks and
troubleshooting
(Nov. 6)
Gelfand (2009) Chapter 4, focus
on
discussion
of
biologic
calibration on page 118.
Gelfand (2009), Ch 17, “Noise levels
and their measurement” – “The
Noise Spectrum”, p. 487-491.
Starkey lab
Time shared with
CSD 9512
Gelfand (2009) Chapter 4, “The Test
Environment and Ambient Noise”.
Gelfand (2009) Chapter 9, “Interaural
attenuation for air-conduction”. pp.
277-278. And “Insert Earphones” pp.
294-295.
 Bring to class: Lankford & Hopkins
(2000) and Dean & Martin (2000).
Thurs,
Nov 5
Audiometric Standards for Air
Conduction Audiometry

Tues,
Nov 10
Thurs,
Nov 12
Tues,
Nov 17
Thurs,
Nov 19
Tues,
Nov 24
Thurs,
Nov 26
Tues,
Dec 1
Thurs,
Dec 3
Tues,
Dec 8
 Margolis & Popelka, 2014
 Rosowski & Wilber, 2014
 ASHA Sound field measurement
tutorial. Use this for its glossary and
to reinforce or clarify your
understanding from the other
readings as necessary.
Audiometric Standards for
Bone Conduction and
Immitance Systems.
Sound level meter
measurements in
dBA and dBC
(Nov. 13)
Sound fields and their calibration,
introduction to reinforcement
Time shared with
equipment
CSD 9512
Audiometric Standards for
Speech Audiometry and
Short Duration Stimuli
No lab, Nov 20
Screening Equipment & the RFP
process
Starkey lab


(CSD 9512 lab)
SLM evaluation of
noise.
Calibration checks
in a hearing aid
analyzer/probe mic
Hearing Aid Analyzers and NOAH system (Nov. 27)

Computers and Data Security
(Steve Beaulac, NCA)
Room acoustics and ambient
noise, effects of distance and
reverb on communication
The Speech Intelligibility
Index

Starkey Lab


Frost & Levitt (2014)
Laukli & Burkard (2014)
http://www.infanthearing.org/screening/
equipment-manufacturers.html
http://www.techsoup.org/support/article
s-and-how-tos/overview-of-the-rfpprocess
http://www.himsa.com/Support/Noah4K
nowledgebase/LearningCenter/tabid/22
39/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Ravin & Preves, 2014
Holube et al (2010)
Room Acoustics & Speech Perception
by Arthur Boothroyd.
 Gelfand (2009) Chapter 17, “Speech
Communication Interference”, pp. 502506.
No lab

No lab


Subjective measures of speech
intelligibility & quality
Champlin & Letowski (2014) for air
conduction calibration topic.
Amlani, Punch, & Ching (2002).
Killion and Mueller (2010).