This unit presents an overview for audiologists of human communication, from early childhood through to adulthood, and relates it to difficulties associated with impaired hearing. Alternative communication systems (eg. sign language) are also presented. Topics include the production of speech sounds, basic physiological linguistics, linguistic organisation, acoustic phonetics, phoniatrics, sonograms, normal loudness, pitch and timing perception, masking in speech perception, developmental milestones, speech and language development in normal and hearing impaired children, auditory perception (in children and adults), psychological effects, effects on reading and general education, artificial speech, Makaton, Auslan, signed-English. 

Lectures and tutorials: Equivalent of 2 Lectures per week plus self-paced assignments and a small number of laboratory classes 
6 points in semester 2 
Pre-requisites: AI511 in Semester 1, and pre-reading assumed. 
Unit coordinator: Dr. R. Patuzzi