The aim of the module is to provide students with foundational knowledge of commonly occurring neurogenic speech, language and communication needs in adulthood. The module also aims to introduce students to theories, concepts and analytical frameworks to guide assessment and treatment planning in relation to these needs.

Content includes differential diagnosis of a range of neurogenic speech and language conditions in adulthood including aphasia, motor speech disorders, cognitive-communication disorders, right hemisphere language disorders secondary to a range of aetiologies, including acquired brain injury, dementia, and other progressive conditions. Students apply biopsychosocial models of disability to the process of assessment, goal setting and management planning in relation to adults with these needs. Students consider the implications of progressive conditions for treatment planning. Students also learn about the role of the speech and language therapist in relation to education and advocacy. Students are guided to integrate information from a range of sources (client data, theory and evidence-base, condition-specific knowledge, policy, and service delivery context) to inform clinical decision-making. Students will also gain an understanding of the multiple factors (genetic, linguistic, environmental, bio-psychosocial, cultural, and educational) that need to be taken into account in order to develop holistic, person-centred, evidence-based assessment and management plans for different profiles of neurogenic speech, language and communication needs in adulthood.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Apply language and communication processing theory/frameworks to inform decision-making in relation to assessment and therapeutic approaches when working with adults with neurogenic speech, language, and communication needs. 2. Differentially diagnose different profiles of neurogenic speech, language and communication needs in adulthood. 3. Integrate knowledge from a broad range of information sources to inform holistic practice when working with adults with neurogenic speech, language and communication needs. 4. Justify staging, tailoring and measurement of management outcomes in response to changing needs and preferences of adults with neurogenic speech, language and communication needs over time, both in the context of progressive and non-progressive conditions.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 5. Challenge own assumptions and preconceptions about the lived experience of individuals with neurogenic speech, language, and communication needs. 6. Value personhood, autonomy and person-centred care when developing goals and planning management.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: n/a

The student attends a combination of lectures, tutorials and each week. The module is delivered in a structured and interactive format that includes a flipped classroom approach, whereby students are required to engage in pre-recorded and/or signposted materials in advance of classes and tutorials (graduate attribute: proactive). Face-to-face sessions involve a mixture of direct instruction and case-based learning. Student learning is enriched by incorporating additional web-based content including practice materials, exercises, and further learning resources. Student learning is scaffolded with active self-directed reading (graduate attribute: proactive), and opportunities for peer-to-peer reflection. Live and web-based quiz materials ensure active engagement with the syllabus. The student is exposed to a range of types of knowledge including the views of service users, findings from intervention-based and population-based research, policy and professional guidelines, and expert clinical opinion. Formative assessment opportunities are integrated into curriculum design. The teaching and learning approaches afford the student opportunities to apply their developing linguistic, psycholinguistic and clinical reasoning skills to speech and language therapy cases and contexts.