SL3004 - Acquired Language Impairments

Enrolment is restricted to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology IHCAP Program and the Bachelor of Speech Pathology Honours Programs.

This subject provides the foundation theoretical and professional skills necessary for speech pathology competence when working with clients with acquired language impairments. This includes assessment, diagnosis and intervention planning. The subject covers a variety of aetiological factors (i.e. underlying causes of language impairment) such as left hemisphere stroke, right hemisphere stroke, traumatic brain injury and degenerative neurological conditions such as the dementias. This subject explores theoretical models of language processing as they are relevant to the assessment of acquired language impairments. The impact of acquired language disorders on activity and participation in community contexts will be explored.

Learning Outcomes

• synthesise information from a variety of clinical sources in order to formulate communication profiles, clinical diagnoses and intervention plans;
• evaluate outcomes of assessment and intervention and provide recommendations for management;
• describe and compare frequently occurring acquired language impairments;
• describe, demonstrate and justify methods for assessing acquired language impairments;
• apply, analyse and explain cognitive- neuropsychological models of language processing;
• describe cultural and social implications of acquired language impairment through the application of the principles of the International Classification of Function (ICF).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.