Speech and Language Disorders - Advanced

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

Completion of the following subjects:

N/A

N/A

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This unit will focus on advanced issues in the diagnosis of speech, language and swallowing disorders from childhood to adulthood. There will be an emphasis on presenting and supporting students to problem solve real-world clinical dilemmas regarding the use of existing best practice classification systems to refine diagnoses for clients. In particular, clients with complex co-morbid conditions will be presented. The subject will also cover the importance of, and processes for, working with other health professional colleagues in the measurement and interpretation of evidence to guide their diagnosis for speech, swallowing and language disorder.

On completion of this subject students should:

• Understand and describe the benefits and limitations of diagnostic classification systems
• Be aware of a range of complex issues that may affect client diagnosis
• Evaluate & interpret challenging clinical data from clients with complex disorders across the lifespan
• Be able to select assessment tools or tasks able to support differential diagnosis of clients with complex needs
• Apply diagnosis strategies which have direct implications for establishing intervention goals for individuals
• Be able to write reports that elucidate the pathway to the end diagnoses with recommendations for appropriate related treatment plans
• Understand and identify the appropriate health professional to refer a complex client to, appropriate to the age and context of the client
• Describe professionals processes for working with other health professionals in the differential diagnosis of clients

Completion of a written document (3,000 words) and presentation of 5-minute oral (500 words) to be submitted in Weeks 8 to 10, Semester 1 - 60%.
A two hour written examination at the end of Semester 1 – 40%

Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the written exam in order to pass the subject.

Nil.

Nil.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should show:

• an ability to evaluate and synthesise information in a flexible manner
• a capacity to articulate their knowledge in both oral and written formats