Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Knowledge base from all pre-requisite modules is needed to maximise the effective learning from this module.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module underpins the clinical management of progressive cognitive-communication impairments, motor speech disorders(progressive and non-progressive), and voice disorders & head/neck cancer. Specific aims are:

•       To use knowledge of speech & language therapy to assess and work with people with acquired speech & language impairments, acquired cognitive impairments, voice impairments
•       To evaluate the effects of communication difficulties on the psychosocial wellbeing of service users affected by these disorders, their families & carers
•       To apply knowledge of communication impairment, linguistics, phonetics, psychology& medical sciences to the identification, assessment & differential diagnosis of acquired speech, language &cognitive impairments as well as voice disorders
•       To identify the range of communication impairments that could occur in the various types of dementia, motor speech disorders, voice & oropharyngeal surgery
•       To contrast different management approaches for mitigating communication impairments in the disorders addressed in this module
•       To formulate assessment and treatment plans for addressing communication impairments in progressive cognitive-communication disorders, motor speech disorders as well as voice & other structural abnormalities of the vocal tract
•       To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plan at different levels of description and impact
•       To prepare students to work effectively with clients, their families& other members of the multi-disciplinary team in the assessment, care,& management of adults with these disorders, across different stages of the conditions, including palliative & end of life

HCPC Standards of Proficiency (SoPs) this modules addresses:

2.7 understand the importance of and be able to obtain valid consent, which is voluntary, informed has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented

2.8 understand the importance of capacity in the context of delivering care and treatment

5.1 respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising that this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences

5.5 recognise the characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups

5.6 actively challenge these barriers, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible

5.7 recognise the regard to equality, diversity and inclusion needs to be embedded in the application of all HCPC standards, across all areas of practice

7.9 recognise the possible contribution of social, psychological and medical factors to service users’ communication difficulties and swallowing status

8.13 understand the role of the speech and language therapist in taking the lead responsibility on speech and language, communication and swallowing within a multi-professional forum

8.14 recognise that the need to work with others includes health, social care and educational professionals

8.15 recognise the importance of working in partnership with service users and their families

12.1 understand the structure and function of the human body, together with knowledge of physical and mental health, disease, impairment and dysfunction relevant to their profession

12.11 understand therapeutic contexts, models and processes relevant to the practice of speech and language therapy

12.12 understand developmental and acquired disorders of speech, language, communication and swallowing

Additionally, SOPs 13.15, 13.16, 13.17, 13.19 and 15.3 are addressed.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module has three components:

1. Progressive cognitive-communication disorders
•       Overview of cognitive, sensory and other changes as a result of ageing
•       Overview of progressive cognitive disorders (mild cognitive impairment; primary progressive aphasias; dementias: Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, mixed dementia; rarer forms of dementia: posterior cortical atrophy, cortico-basal degeneration)
•       Psychiatric and behavioural changes in progressive cognitive disorders
•       Diagnostic issues in dementia and the roles of neurology, clinical psychology, speech and language therapy
•       Assessment frameworks for understanding communication changes in dementia
•       Treatment approaches for promoting communication skills in dementia, including training of carers
•       Service user perspectives

2. Motor speech disorders in progressive and non-progressive aetiologies
Building on introduction in Speech and Language Pathology I and II
•       Description and classification of motor speech disorders
•       Motor speech and intelligibility assessment
•       Differential diagnosis of different types of dysarthria
•       Differential diagnosis of apraxia of speech
•       Clinical presentations of apraxia of speech in progressive (stroke) and non-progressive aetiologies (motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)
•       Treatment approaches for apraxia of speech and types of dysarthria across aetiologies
•       Service user perspectives

3. Voice, Head & Neck
•       Normal and abnormal voice, including gender issues (voice mutation, gender identity, transgender)
•       Causes and classification of voice disorders
•       Psychosocial aspects of voice disorders
•       Assessment frameworks of voice disorders
•       Treatment approaches for voice disorders
• Upper airways disorders
•       Diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancers
•       Anatomical changes following oral and pharyngeal surgery
•       Pre- and post-operative counselling
•       Treatment approaches following oral and pharyngeal surgery (oesophageal voice, artificial larynx, surgical voice restoration)
•       Service user perspectives

In relation to the RCSLT curriculum guidance, the Speech and Language Pathology modules allow the students to demonstrate the applied knowledge of the full range of speech, language and swallowing difficulties and their speech and language therapy management. This module focuses specifically on clinical areas: 1. Acquired cognitive communication disorders arising from dementia. 2. Acquired language disorders: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) 3. Acquired motor speech disorders 4. Acquired neurological disorders and/or conditions 8. Head and neck cancers and/or traumas 11. Mental health conditions (adults) and 15. Voice disorders and voice modification. Within biological and medical sciences (4.4.3), there is a focus on neurology, ENT and maxillofacial surgery, psychiatry, gerontology , oncology and palliative care.
The module provides opportunities for students to develop key graduate capabilities around the use of the evidence base to support clinical reasoning and practice (4.2.4 A) by applying knowledge of a range of disciplines relevant to speech and language therapy practice.There is also a focus on developing advanced communication skills (4.2.1A) promoting inclusion and access (4.2.1.B), health promotion (4.2.1C) interprofessional practice and teamworking (4.2.2A) working with service users families and carers (4.2.2B), advocacy (4.2.2C) and developing others (4.2.3C).

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Progressive cognitive-communication disorders

•       Recognise the value of cognitive ageing research and its implications for language pathology
•       Describe the cognitive-communication changes in healthy older adults and adults with dementia
•       Interpret profiles of diverse cognitive testing methods
•       Compare the cognitive-communication changes in normal ageing and dementia to the cognitive-communication impairments in other clinical populations
•       Evaluate different theoretical accounts of cognitive changes in healthy older adults and dementia
•       Evaluate intervention approaches pertaining to the clinical management of dementia
•       Evaluate the impact of progressive cognitive-communication disorders on psychological and social wellbeing

Motor speech disorders

•       Develop understanding of theory of speech motor control that result in changes in speech motor control in progressive and non-progressive aetiologies
•       Understand how surface descriptive features of different motor speech disorders relate to different underlying aetiologies
•       Apply theoretically informed assessment and outcome methods for motor speech disorders
•       Apply theoretical models to practical rationales for key interventions
•       Appraise the evidence-base for speech and language therapy interventions for people with motor speech disorders
•       Evaluate the impact of motor speech disorders on psychological and social wellbeing

Voice, Head & Neck

•       Appraise different assessment frameworks for evaluating voice disorders
•       Apply strategies and options for therapeutic intervention and management of voice disorders
•       Evaluate the impact of voice disorders on psychological and social wellbeing
•       Discuss the principles and procedures underpinning the diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer
•       Understand the relationship between anatomical changes following different types of oral and pharyngeal cancer and their implications for spoken communication and swallowing
•       Evaluate the principles, advantages and disadvantages of post-laryngectomy management options, including oesophageal voice, artificial larynx, and surgical voice restoration
•       Evaluate the impact of oral and pharyngeal cancer on psychological and social wellbeing, including palliative care

Intended Skill Outcomes

Progressive cognitive-communication disorders

•       Identify the key cognitive factors that affect communication in dementia
•       Appraise the complexities of differentially diagnosing cognitive-communication disorders in the presence of related multiple impairments

Motor speech disorders

•       Identify the perceptual characteristics of a range of motor speech disorders
•       Construct, apply and evaluate management plans for the treatment of motor speech disorders

Voice, Head & Neck

•       Recognise the features and properties abnormal voice in relation to different aetiologies
•       Construct, apply and evaluate management plans for the treatment of voice disorders
•       Discuss the impact of oral and pharyngeal cancers on speech and swallowing
•       Explain the role of the speech and language therapist with reference to multidisciplinary team working on the management of individuals with voice disorders
•       Explain the role of the speech and language therapist with reference to multidisciplinary team working on the management of individuals with oral and pharyngeal cancers
•       Evaluate the principal methods for enhancing post-surgery spoken communication
•       Construct, apply and evaluate management plans for improving post-surgery spoken communication

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures have been chosen as a teaching method to make explicit links between theory of concepts relevant to progressive cognitive-communication disorders, motor speech disorders, voice, head & neck and clinical management decision-making and choice of assessment and intervention options.



Selected sessions involve presentations by/ interviews with service users on psychosocial and practical issues.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam formats in progressive cognitive-communication disorders as well as voice, head & neck components, will evaluate students’ ability to link underlying theory to assessment and therapy; to be able to link given communication profiles with given disorders and choose appropriate intervention techniques/rationales for the given disorders. The exam formats will take the form of multiple choice and short answer questions.

The case study for the motor speech disorders component affords variety in assessment methods for this module. It also enables students to demonstrate integration of knowledge from lectures and extensive private study on a pre-specified case. Furthermore, students will demonstrate skills in critical appraisal, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of information with explicit links to the given case.

General Notes

N/A