University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Expert on Education of Deaf Stresses Scope of Audiology
Testing for deafness no longer entails just "sitting and twisting a couple of dials." It has become a fine and detailed study which has become more developed every year.
This was the opinion expressed by Dr. June Miller, professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, at the University Women meeting yesterday.
Prof. Miller, who is educational director of the hearing and speech department at the Medical Center, defined an audiologist as one who is interested in the study of the problems of hearing.
IN THE LAST TEN years, Dr. Miller pointed out, the field of audiology has widened its scope to include physiology, psychology, chemistry, electronics, engineering, etc.
She said the Medical Center has instituted programs devised to inform public health nurses and junior medical students of the various audiological techniques.
During her trip to the International Congress on Deafness in England in 1958, Prof. Miller learned of new methods in audiology and returned to develop the revolutionary ideas.
Revolutionary developments in machines and computers have made it possible to measure more than just the amount of hearing. Prof Miller said. It has enabled technicians to study noise in industry and study the prevention of loss of
hearing from industrial noises, she said.
Dr. Miller noted that there can be several causes of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is usually attributed to ear infection where actually there is hearing loss due to nerve damage or malfunction.
THROUGH RESEARCH in audiology, practitioners will be able to determine whether surgery, amplification, etc. will help the hearing impairment and how much the
Dr. June Miller
1. remedies will help, Prof. Miller said.
The main problem facing the field of audiology and deaf education. Dr. Miller said, is the small number of workers and even smaller number of trained workers.
Dr. Miller noted that the future is optimistic. At present, there are 355 teachers being trained throughout the nation. Of the 42 training centers in the United States, seven are headed by persons who graduated from KU since the deaf education program began in 1951 at the Medical Center, she pointed out.
The training program, Prof Miller said, was greatly aided by the bill passed a year ago which provided for $2,000 per year scholarships for teachers in deaf education.
Various state medical and health organizations are strongly supporting a state wide hearing conservation program. Simultaneously, programs such as that by the Carpenters Union of Olathe, are devoted to providing hearing aids for the needy.
Various developments include an X-ray machine which provides pictures of the movement of speech organs in action and caption films—films which educate the deaf through sight and printed word on such subjects as social security.
The ambiguity of the English language has often made it difficult to interpret the meaning of emotions, feelings and words to the deaf, said Dr. Miller.
Look For The Golden Crest...Symbol of Style, Comfort, Quality
FREEMAN
FOOTWEAR'S GREATEST STYLE, COMFORT VALUE COMBINATION Swift guantone stitched moc pattern! Smooth calfskin! Amazing new exclusive design . . . CONTOUR CUSHION . . . cupped at the heel like the palm of your hand plus soft buoyant foam insole. Makes every step pure pleasure. One of many Freeman OUTOUR CUSHION styles.
Black or Antique Brown
Exclusive comfort curved heel . . . and soft buoyant foam insole.
$18.95
Our 106th Year of Service
ENTIRE STOCK
CLOSEOUT
After-Six Rental FORMAL WEAR
Tuxedos, $20 New, 49.95
White Dinner Jackets, $15
New, 31.50
Formal Trousers,
New, 12.95 $5
Slight charges for alterations
Main Floor