• Offered for Year: 2026/27

• Module Leader(s): Prof. David Howard
• Lecturer: Dr Rob Forsyth, Dr Laurence White, Dr Faye Smith, Dr Nicole Lallini, Dr Joanne Patterson

• Owning School: Education, Communication & Language Sci
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

1. To provide background knowledge about neurological disorders in adults that can result in speech or language impairments.
2. To understand the nature of selected acquired neuropsychological impairments and how these are assessed and how these impact on speech and language performance and therapy.
3. To gain an understanding of different psychiatric disorders and their aetiologies.
4. To gain an understanding of the effects of different psychiatric disorders on communication.
5. To gain an understanding of the impact of communication disorders on self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy and a person’s social role.
6. To consider the wider consequences of speech and language difficulties.
7. To give students a brief overview of the theory and thinking behind the principles of counselling skills and how these relate to clinical practice as a Speech and Language Therapist

In relation to HCPC Standards of Proficiency, this module addresses aspects of the following standards but is not the only module to do so:
5.2 recognise the possible contribution of social, psychological and medical factors to service users’ communication difficulties and swallowing status
13.10 understand psychology as relevant to lifespan development and change, normal and impaired communication and psychological and social wellbeing
13.11 understand sociology in relation to the practice of speech and language therapy, including its application to educational, health and workplace settings and within multi-cultural contexts
14.16 be able to apply knowledge of communication impairment, linguistics, phonetics, psychology and medical sciences to the identification, assessment and differential diagnosis of a range of communication and swallowing disorders
14.17 understand health education and how it relates to communication and swallowing
14.9 be able to evaluate the effects of communication difficulties and swallowing status on the psychosocial wellbeing of service users, their families and carers.
14.21 be able to use knowledge of speech and language therapy to assess and work with people with the following impairments: acquired speech and language impairments, developmental or acquired cognitive impairments, developmental speech and language impairments, fluency impairments, swallowing impairments, voice impairments.

Outline Of Syllabus

Clinical neurology
1 Stroke 1
2 Stroke 2
3 Head injury
4 The dementias: neurological aspects
5 Movement disorders
6 Multiple sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease & Myasthenia Gravis
7 Seizure disorders
8 Tumours and infections
9 Child neurology
10 Brain imaging
11 Aphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia round-up
12 Acquired Neurological problems in Children and Epilepsy (semester 2, 4 hours)


Neuropsychology
1 Attention
2 Disorders of attention
3 Roles of the prefrontal lobes (focus on psychosocial and problem solving)
4 Frontal lobe disorders
5 Calculation/ number processing
6 Acalculia
7 Action planning and control
8 Motor planning and control disorders


Clinical Psychology
1 Introduction to psychiatric disorder
2 Classification – issues of ‘normality’
3 Anxiety disorders
4 Depression I
5 Depression II
6 Personality disorders
7 Psychosis
8 General counselling 'workshop'
9 Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
10 Cognitive Behavioural 'workshop'
11 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and functional dysphonia


Social Psychology
1 Self-concept and self-esteem
2 Self efficacy
3 Behavioural change and compliance
4 Grief and loss
5 Quality of life
6 Discrimination and prejudice
7 Working with young people with behavioural problems (semester 2, 3 hours)

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Clinical Neurology and Neuropsychology
Sessions are interactive lectures that consist of: introduction to and explanation of different neurological disorder complexes; theoretical perspectives on the selected neuropsychology topics; and student participation in discussing, interpreting, decision making with clinical data presented in the form of videos, test results, observational assessments which incorporate understanding of the material in the light of the different theoretical perspectives introduced. During private study students follow up reading, handouts and further learning materials posted on blackboard, including problem solving scenarios related to clinical aims.


Counseling Skills Workshop
Practical workshops will introduce basic counselling skills e.g. active listening, breaking bad news etc., consider how these relate to clinical practice as a speech and language therapist and encourage students to think about boundaries.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

students must pass the clinical neurology and neuropsychology class test. For the 2 essays (clinical psychology and Social Psychology), they must pass overall. These can be compensated, as long as the aggregate mark is a pass.

Clinical Neurology and Neuropsychology
The multiple choice questions present students with questions about aspects of the pathology, presentation and course of the selected neurological disorders in relation to speech and language; with issues from the theoretical underpinnings of neuropsychological disorders and with case scenarios of neuropsychological impairments to test out understanding of differential diagnostic and assessment issues in the selected disorders.

Clinical and Social Psychology
The assessment gives the opportunity for students to assimilate both aspects of the module component and deepen their understanding of mental health disorders in relation to concepts of self and in relation to concepts of society within a clinical context. The assessment also gives the opportunity to deepen the students’ understanding of communication disorders and their impact on people’s self-esteem, self-concept and self-efficacy.

A small number of hours, covering acquired neurological problems in children and behaviour problems in young people, are taught in semester 2 and not directly assessed. Students will however be required to apply this knowledge on their clinical placements.

Reading Lists

• SPE3025's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• SPE3025's Timetable