The aim of this module is to introduce students to a wide range of commonly occurring speech, language and communication needs in early childhood and adolescence. The module provides students with the opportunity to draw on their developing knowledge of concepts in language structure, meaning and use and models of processing to describe and analyse developmental speech, language, and communication profiles.

This module includes content related to the differential diagnosis of children and adolescents with a range of speech, language, and communication needs including developmental language disorders, childhood speech sound disorders, as well as speech, language, and communication needs associated with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, and autism. Students will be introduced to a wide range of techniques and strategies in relation to the assessment of different profiles of need, and will develop an understanding of a range of intervention strategies when working with this childhood population. Students will be guided to integrate information including genetic, environmental, bio-psychosocial, cultural, and educational factors to develop holistic, child-centred, evidence-based assessment and management plans for different profiles of speech, language and communication needs in childhood and adolescence. Content will be adapted year on year in response to new developments in theory and research.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Analyse assessment data to develop a detailed communication profile for intervention planning purposes using appropriate phonological, linguistic, and psycholinguistic frameworks 2. Differentially diagnose different profiles of childhood speech, language, and communication needs 3. Construct holistic and evidence-based case management plans for profiles of speech, language and communication needs in childhood and adolescence 4. Critically appraise the evidence base underpinning assessment and intervention approaches in relation to speech, language and communication needs in childhood and adolescence

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 1. Show sensitivity towards individual linguistic and cultural differences related to childhood populations with speech, language, and communication needs 2. Display a commitment to the role of advocate for children with speech, language and communication needs and their families

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

The student attends a combination of lectures and tutorials each week. The module is delivered in a highly 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 related to profiles of need. Formative assessment opportunities are integrated into curriculum design. The teaching and learning approaches afford students opportunities to apply their developing linguistic, psycholinguistic, clinical reasoning skills and knowledge to speech and language therapy cases and contexts.