美国的听力师教育

随着婴儿潮、人口老龄化及新技术的广泛应用，人们对听力保健的需求显著增加。在美国，听力保健服务由助听设备专员、耳鼻喉科医生和听力师3类人员提供，其中听力师提供除医疗、手术外宽泛的听力保健服务。美国的听力保健服务体系及听力师教育体系经历了一个渐进的过程：20年前对从业人员的学历要求是听力学硕士，随着对服务质量要求的提高和服务范围的扩大，美国听力师逐渐要求专业博士学位（Au.D），毕业后还需3～4年的专门教育才能成为一名听力师。听力师教育有统一的标准，大学课程要通过听力教育认证委员会（the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education， ACAE）或学术认证委员会（the Council on Academic Accreditation，CAA）的多程序严格的认证才能被承认。美国听力师需求存在巨大缺口，但是各国听力学教育标准不统一及听力师收入与教育投资不匹配，阻碍了更多的人进入这一领域。美国试图通过改变教育模式，降低教育成本及革新教学方法等改善听力师教育状况，但是听力师教育体系远未完善。     

Interpersonal positive reframing in the daily lives of couples coping with breast cancer

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined word use as an indicator of interpersonal positive reframing in daily conversations of couples coping with breast cancer and as a predictor of stress.

Design: The Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) were used to examine naturally occurring word use conceptually linked to positive reframing (positive emotion, negative emotion, and cognitive processing words).

Sample: Fifty-two couples coping with breast cancer.

Methods: Couples wore the EAR, a device participants wear, that audio-recorded over one weekend (>16,000 sound files), and completed self-reports of positive reframing (COPE) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). LIWC, a software program, measured word use.

Findings: Both partners’ word use (i.e., positive emotion and cognitive processing words) was associated with their own reported positive reframing, and spouses’ word use was also indicative of patients’ positive reframing. Results also revealed that, in general, words indicating positive reframing predicted lower levels of stress.

Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that partners—and particularly spouses of breast cancer patients—may assist each other’s coping by positively reframing the cancer experience and other negative experiences in conversation.     

Botulinum toxin blocks mast cells and prevents rosacea like inflammation

Background

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition whose etiology has been linked to mast cells and the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37. Individuals with refractory disease have demonstrated clinical benefit with periodic injections of onabotulinum toxin, but the mechanism of action is unknown.