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"I realised how impactful this profession could be; learning how my work could potentially change the whole lifetime of a child with congenital hearing loss gave me a deep respect for audiology."
In this Q&A, we speak to Xinping Fu, an alumnus on the Advanced Audiology MSc.
What first got you interested in audiological science?
I first learnt about audiological science when choosing a major after the college entrance exam. I was drawn to its 100% employment rate after a quick online search, which seemed like a promising career path.
However, it wasn’t until I started university that I truly understood the depth and significance of the field. Through my studies, I realised how impactful this profession could be; learning how my work could potentially change the whole lifetime of a child with congenital hearing loss gave me a deep respect for audiology. The idea of making such a profound difference in someone’s life, whether by helping them hear their first words or improving their quality of life, inspired me to take this career path seriously. This motivation drives me to dedicate myself to helping more hearing loss patients through the science of audiology, and I am excited to contribute to this meaningful field.
What attracted you to the Advanced Audiology MSc at UCL?
What drew me to the Advanced Audiology MSc at UCL was its flexible curriculum and the well-developed research project arrangement.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I worked for four years. This period reinforced my passion for audiology but also highlighted the limitations of my foundational knowledge in addressing the varied challenges I faced. Motivated to deepen my expertise, I sought a master's programme that could cater to my specific interests and career goals. Meanwhile, my four years of work also provided me with a solid financial foundation to fund my studies abroad. In addition to the four compulsory courses, the Advanced Audiology program allow students have the flexibility to choose four elective courses, allowing me to customise my studies to meet my professional needs. This flexibility enabled me to concentrate on areas crucial for enhancing my skills and preparing for future career challenges.
Regarding my final thesis, the university provided a comprehensive plan, and everyone successfully completed each task according to the schedule. Initially, the school offers a selection of topics, allowing students and professors to mutually choose, thus eliminating the need for students to independently determine their research direction. Additionally, most of these topics have already passed ethical reviews, saving a significant amount of time in the preliminary preparations.
Can you tell us more about your MSc project pupillometry and listening effort?
Firstly，I would like to express my utmost gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Maria Chait, my colleague Claudia Contadini-Wright, and all my colleagues at the Chait Lab. With their guidance and support, I was able to successfully complete my MSc project on pupillometry and listening effort. I also cherish the wonderful memories of my time at the Chait Lab.
Effective auditory and cognitive interactions are required for successful speech comprehension. It is common for clients to complain to audiologists that sounds are loud enough, and speech is understandable, but that it is exhausting and frequently too difficult to capture target information. In contrast to traditional speech intelligibility, the evaluation of listening effort adds a new dimension to measuring auditory processing. My research aims to develop a rapid, pupillometry-based test of listening effort that can be used in the clinical setting (i.e. with a portable eye-tracker). Participants with normal hearing performed speech-in-noise tests at various SNR levels, while pupil dilation responses were recorded. We discovered that the portable eye-tracker successfully recorded sufficient “good trials” for analysis. The difference between paired listening conditions was significant which indicated that the difficulty of the listening task modulated pupil diameter. In this study, the more difficult the listening task, the larger the pupil dilation. The sub-sampling analysis revealed that fewer successful trials (e.g. five trials) for each condition might be sufficient, where the effect is anticipated to be extremely significant.
How have you put into practice what you learnt on your MSc?
Firstly, I delved into listening effort during my studies, gaining a systematic understanding of auditory cognition. In clinical practice, I often see patients with normal audiometry results yet struggling in noisy environments. Previously, I was unsure how to address their issues, but now I perform listening effort assessments and explain their problems in detail. I've shared these insights at domestic seminars and published a review on "Advances in the Study of Listening Effort in School-Age Children," increasing awareness among audiologists. Research on listening effort in China has been growing.
Secondly, I explored the diagnosis and management of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). Although many audiology societies have established their own guidelines and consensus, there has been controversy regarding the definition, diagnosis, and management of APD. My MSc course included lectures from international professors on APD, enhancing my clinical approach to diagnosing and managing these patients.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in audiological science?
Everyone has unique career aspirations and lifestyles, so I share insights from my education and career in audiology.
Passion fuels enjoyment and persistence. To explore this field, volunteer at hospitals, hearing aid/cochlear implant companies, or schools for the deaf. Witnessing patients' joy upon regaining their hearing fosters a deep sense of professional fulfillment.
As audiology evolves, continuous learning is essential. Studying abroad, despite the cost, offers more than knowledge; it's a journey of personal growth, broadening perspectives and enriching minds. A UK master's programme, though brief, connects you with global experts, enhancing your understanding of industry trends and sparking new interests through multicultural experiences.
Graduates often debate between hospital and corporate roles. Hospitals offer stability but limited growth; hearing aid dispensers demand strong communication skills. If unsure, start in a hospital for 3-5 years to work with diverse patient cases, enhancing your skills and leveraging the trust in medical professionals for future corporate opportunities.