Microaccreditation in Cognitive Screening in Audiology

The microcreditation course in cognitive screening in Audiology aims to develop skills in two areas that are in full development internationally in the practice of Audiology and that require some professional maturity.
Hearing loss causes changes in brain structures and functions, increases cognitive load to the extent that it requires a greater effort to listen and understand what is being said. This effort will decrease the resources for auditory memory as these are finite and shared between listening and memory. The individual due to effort and often hearing fatigue ends up isolating which aggravates the risk of cognitive decline.
If a good quality of hearing is needed to decrease the risk of cognitive decline the reverse also happens, especially if the listening environment is adverse (e.g. reverberant).
The role of the audiology graduate (audiologist)in auditory rehabilitation/training can contribute to a decrease in auditory-cognitive effort. This intervention may contribute to a decreased risk of cognitive decline.
At the beginning of auditory rehabilitation/auditory training, the audiologist should screen for cognitive decline, not only to refer suspected cases, but also to monitor the improvement or maintenance of the cognitive health of the individual who uses their services.
At the international level, as in the USA this practice by the audiologist begins to be habitual. In Portugal, with the training in cognition by many audiologists, it is a current topic.

Audiology graduates with clinical practice in audiology of at least 3 years, duly proven, can apply for enrolment and registration.

Portuguese

This microcreditation aims to enable audiology graduates to perform the screening of the cognitive abilities of the individuals who resort to them, as well as to know how to make the correct referral whenever necessary.