Pre-Reading for the January Entrance Exam

In earlyJanuary applicants for Audiology will sit a simple 2hr entrance examination.

The entrance exam pressures students to cover some basics before the course starts.
This should reduce the chances that they become flustered during the first intensive 5-week semester. 
The important issues covered will be:
(i) Audiology as a profession: does the student have a realistic understanding of their chosen profession?
(ii) Basic physics of sound (e.g. transverse & longitudinal sound waves, speed, frequency and wavelength).
(iii) Ear basics, such as outer and middle ear structures, and the basics of inner ear structure.
(iv) Basics of cell structure & function, & nerve function in particular, including electrical activity and synapses.

Three booklets are provided for downloading.
Websites cover the basics of cells & neural function.
Thanks to the sources.

ACROBAT 5.0
OR LATER REQUIRED 

BOOKLET1 DOWNLOAD
BOOKLET2 DOWNLOAD
BOOKLET3 DOWNLOAD

WEBSITES ON NERVE FUNCTION
www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/public/basics_ch1_1.html  - University of Bristol neuroscience introduction
www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/public/basics_ch1_2.html  - animated site of neural action potential activity
www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/public/basics_ch1_3.html - animated site on synaptic communication
REST OF BRISTOL UNIVERSITY'S NEUROSCIENCE WEBSITE IS INTERESTING BUT EXCESSIVE FOR ENTRANCE EXAM
http://connection.lww.com/products/rhoades/documents/smch3.pdf  - download3 & MORE than enough
www.alsa-or.org/research/BasicNeurology.htm  - first sections in particular, but details NOT required
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html  - some simple links to give an idea of neural function
www.mrs.umn.edu/~goochv/HAP/lectures/actpot/actpot.html  - detailed description of neural signals
www.mindcreators.com/NeuronBasics.htm - another site explaining basic neural signals
www.virtuallaboratory.net/Biofundamentals/lectureNotes/Topic6-4_Signaling.htm  - neural animations (too much) 

List of topics covered in entrance exam

Cell basics, nucleus, organelles & cell membranes (consult simple biology textbooks on cell basics)
Cells as building blocks/Basics of nerve function (membrane potential, action potentials, synapses)

Sound basics (see booklets 1 &2)/Sound as vibrations (longitudinal and transverse sound waves)
Sound velocity, frequency, wavelength/sound reflection & absorption/sound level [decibel (logarithmic) scale]

Basics of hearing and the ear (see booklet downloads).

Audiology as a profession ( www.audiology.asn.au/www.pco.edu/acad_progs/Audiology/aud_career.htm)
Testing/Diagnosis/Rehabilitation including hearing aids/Rehabilitative Counselling (e.g for Tinnitus)/Screening for hearing loss in workforce & schools/Hospital based work in support of ENT surgeons (hearing and balance)/Educational audiology, etc.