Speech & Language Therapy

Speech & Language Therapy

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Speech and Language Therapy

HCSCGS22: Management of Acquired Communication Difficulties

Unit Co-ordinator:

Carolyn Bruce

+44 (0) 207 679 4200

Room 312, Chandler House

c.bruce@ucl.ac.uk

Course Outline

This study module introduces students to acquired communication difficulties in both adults and children, and develops the theoretical and therapeutic frameworks underlying the principles of assessing and managing people with these problems. The module has links with all the other modules of the degree, but is linked most closely with HCSCGS21 (Professional & Clinical Studies II), HCSCGS23 (Disorder of Vocal Tract: Structure & Function), HCSCGS12 (Developmental Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties).

Aims

• To provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the nature of acquired communication difficulties in both adults and children.
• To provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods and procedures of assessment of acquired communication difficulties within the ICF framework.
• To increase students’ ability to gather and evaluate evidence and information about a person with acquired communication difficulties from a range of sources.
• To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the rationales and principles underlying different therapy approaches.
• To broaden students’ knowledge of ways to evaluate the effects of treatment, and the adequacy of service provision.
• To extend students’ awareness of available service delivery options.
• To give students’ knowledge of Government policies for the provision of health and social care.   
• To increase students’ understanding of different approaches to health, illness and care when providing a service to individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
• To develop written communication skills.

Syllabus Content

• Aetiology, incidence and recovery from brain injury and mental health problems.
• Characteristics of acquired communication difficulties resulting from CVA, head injury, dementia and mental health problems.
• Medical and multi-disciplinary management of acquired communication difficulties across the lifespan.
• Models of spoken and written single word and sentence processing.
• Methods of assessment of acquired communication difficulties and their principles – informal and formal approaches.
• Approaches to the therapy and management of acquired communication difficulties across the life span.  This includes consideration of issues relating to the management of bilingual and culturally diverse populations.
• Hypothesis-testing and clinical reasoning in the management of communication difficulties.
• Outcomes and efficacy in the management of communication difficulties.
• National Health Service policies and current approaches to service delivery – acute and long term rehabilitation.
• The role of voluntary agencies in long term management.