Training in  Audiological Medicine

UK Higher Medical  Training in Audiological Medicine
(Prepared by Dr Susan Snashall MD, Consultant Audiological Physician, Department of Audiological Medicine, St.  George's Hospital, Tooting, London SW17 0QT
Tel: +44(0)20-8725 1886

Higher Medical Training in Audiological Medicine the United Kingdom is directed by the Royal  College of Physicians of England. The duration of the Specialist Registrar (SpR)  Training Program is 5 Years. MRCP, MRCGP or MRCPCH is essential except for those  trainees transferring from ENT who will have FRCS or MRCS.  Trainees from other European countries must have had equivalent experience. Basic theoretical training is delivered via an MSc in Audiological Medicine at either London or Manchester Universities on a day basis during the first two years of the program. The clinical curriculum  includes both adult and paediatric audiological medicine covering all aspects of hearing, balance and communication disorders.  Secondments in Neurology,  Psychiatry, developmental paediatrics, genetics, geriatrics and ophthalmology  are a recognised part of training. Trainees learn to work within the multidisciplinary teams through which audiology services are delivered, and to work with the relevant voluntary bodies. Training is delivered on a rotation basis with at least one year spent on on each site. There are two rotations, Pan Thames (12 posts) and Northern (6 posts). Two of the posts are academic  (Clinical Lecturer). The Northern rotation includes Manchester, Cardiff and  Trent.  training record is kept by the trainee and used to asses progress towards the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). This  enables the trainee to be placed on the Specialist Register at the General Medical Council, UK.

Curriculum in Audiological Medicine (Please note: The Curriculum is available on  JCHMT website

AUDIOLOGICAL MEDICINE

What is  Audiological Medicine?

  • Audiological Medicine is specialty dealing with the diagnosis, investigation, management including rehabilitation of patients with disorders  of hearing and balance.
  • It is a relatively new specialty that develops the interface between ENT, Neurology and Audiology in adults and between Paediatrics and Audiology in children.
  • It is an expanding specialty offering excellent career prospects in an understaffed field

The specialty  of Audiological Medicine Includes:

  • The investigation, diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing impaired  children and adults.
  • The investigation, diagnosis and rehabilitation of balance disorders using highly specialised technology.
  • Participation in surveillance, screening and preventive  audiology.
  • The diagnosis and management of patients with tinnitus dysacuses.

How do you become and Audiological Physician?

As an  Audiological Physician...

You will manage an investigation orientated department working with a team of scientific and  technical staff and therapists,  run on an outpatient basis with strong emphasis on rehabilitation and multidisciplinary work

Reference: Curriculum in Audiological Medicine

Higher Training in Audiological Medicine in the future
.Trainees entering a 5-year training scheme leading to a CCST (whether career or Type 1 visiting trainees) have to fulfill the SAC (Specialist Advisory Council of the Royal College of Physicians)enrty criteria, which include satisfactory completion of General Professional Training (GPT) and possession of MRCP, or equivalent (such equivalence should be pre-agreed by the respective Royal College) qualification.

The long-term plan envisaged by Calman is for the abolition of specialist SHO posts and for the trainees to enter specialist training immediately following GPT.

Applicants for Higher Medical Training (HMT) should have completed a minimum of two years General Professional Training in approved posts and obtained the MRCP(UK) or (I). The FRCS in Otolaryngology, MRPCH, MRCGP are acceptable alternatives, as is equivalent EU experience. If the candidate has an MRCS (ENT) and 18 months of Basic Surgical Training (BST), he/she will need to have completed a minimum of 6 months of Accident & Emergency training, which must include unselected medical take to qualify for entry to the training grade. Experience in Audiological Medicine is not essential for enrollment into HMT, but experience at SHO grade in paediatrics, neurology, otolaryngology and geriatrics is valuable.

It is essential that when equivalent qualifications or experience are being offered that the applicant seeks prior approval from the JCHMT.