SPSC461-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023

Complex Communication Disorders

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2023
End Date: Sunday, 25 June 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 5 March 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 14 May 2023

Description

In this course, students undertake advanced study with a focus on the management of more complex and multifaceted cases. Discussion topics include the management of clients for whom there is more than one key issue influencing their management (e.g. more than one communication disorder, bilingualism, psychosocial issues, multicultural background) and for clients in specialist areas of speech-language therapy (e.g. neurodevelopmental and cognitive communication disorders). Students explore knowledge which enables them, on the basis of a range of novel and complex case studies, to compare and contrast appropriate assessment procedures, to differentially diagnose the presence, extent, and nature of the communication disorder, to establish appropriate goals for intervention and to plan an appropriate intervention programme.

Description / Whakamahuki

In this course, students undertake advanced study with a focus on the management of more
complex and multifaceted cases. Discussion topics include the management of clients for
whom there is more than one key factor influencing their management (e.g. presence of more
than one communication disorder, psychosocial factors, bilingualism and culturally and
linguistically diverse background) and for clients in specialist areas of speech-language
therapy (e.g., neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive communication disorders). Students
explore knowledge which enables them, on the basis of a range of novel and complex case
studies, to independently compare and contrast appropriate assessment procedures, to
differentially diagnose the presence, extent, and nature of the communication disorder, to
establish appropriate goals for intervention, and to plan an appropriate intervention
programme using evidence based practice. Their work will reflect a critical awareness of
issues in clinical practice and an evaluation of the quality of the evidence underpinning their
clinical decisions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Goal of the Course

    The aim of this course in the final semester of the BSLP programme is to enhance students’
    skills in managing more complex and multifaceted cases. Students will use a case-based
    learning approach applied to complex cases that focus on a range of issues across the
    lifespan. A large focus of the course is to improve self-directed learning skills as relates to
    case management using evidence-based practice. Students will be required to integrate
    knowledge acquired in other courses, to refine their abilities to make clinical decisions, and to
    independently critically appraise and apply research evidence to their clinical practice.

    Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO) / Hua Akoranga

    Intended learning outcomes represent what you should know and/or be able to do as a result
    of active engagement in the learning process. Below is a table that represents the intended
    learning outcomes of this course, along with the associated learning method(s) and
    assessment task(s).

    Upon successful completion of this course, I will be able to:

  • Differentially diagnose the presence, extent, and nature of a complex communication disorder that a client presents with.

  • Construct an assessment plan for a client with complex communication disorders and the individual’s whanau/significant others (underpinned by the ICF, evidence-based practice, and
    cultural competence).

  • Construct a suitable speech and language therapy management plan (including consideration of appropriate multimodal communication methods) for clients with complex communication disorders and the individual’s whanau/significant others (underpinned by the ICF, evidence-based practice, and cultural competence).

  • Identify and apply effective multicultural practices to complex communication disorders cases, with a focus on Māori/Pasifika.

  • Collaborate and consult with colleagues.

  • Demonstrate competency in self-directed learning skills to inform case management decisions.

  • Communicate information in a style appropriate to the audience.

  • Critically appraise the evidence base for a given topic.

  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of issues in clinical practice as applies to a complex case.

    This will be learnt by:
  • Engaging in tutorials and lectures
  • Completing tasks identified in tutorials
  • Independent research
  • Literature search and critical appraisal to inform assignment completion and participation in
      tutorials

Prerequisites

Restrictions

Timetable Note

Timetable / Wātaka

Wednesdays 3-5pm (Ernest Rutherford 460)
Fridays 10am-12pm (Ernest Rutherford 460)

Course Coordinator

Phoebe Macrae

Course Co-ordinator / Kairuruku Akoranga

Phoebe Macrae
Level 1, Leinster Chambers
St George’s Hospital
249 Papanui Rd
Christchurch 8014
Campus office meetings by appointment only: Room 310, Psych/Soc Building
Ph: 03 369 5126
Email: phoebe.macrae@canterbury.ac.nz

Course Facilitator
Kenny Ardouin
Email: kenny.ardouin@canterbury.ac.nz

Assessment

Assessment / Aromatawai

1. Case-based tutorial assignments – 62% in total
Students will be required to independently complete a brief written submission in relation to
three different complex cases (Case #1 will be worth 17%, Case #2 will be worth 20% and
Case #3 will be worth 25%).
The details for each submission will be provided in your
tutorials.
Marking criteria: Marking criteria for the case-based tutorial assignments will be provided on
Learn.

2. Participation in case-based tutorial sessions – 8% in total
Students will be required to attend and fully participate in case-based tutorial sessions. If a
student would like to receive credit for a missed tutorial, they will need a medical certificate to
have their absence explained.
Marking criteria: A total of 8% of your grade will be obtained from attendance and for
individual student participation in the 11 case-based tutorial sessions. 0.5% - 1% will be
awarded for attending and participating in each tutorial and for contributing quality information
to resolve learning issues in the tutorial discussions for each case. See schedule for
allocation of percentages to each tutorial.

3. Written case-based assignment – 30%
Each student will independently complete a written assignment that focuses on a complex
case. You will have two cases to select from for this final assessment. This assignment will be
based on your own review of the literature on this population and best practice. A skilful
integration of case information with the best available research evidence is expected. A brief
for this assignment will occur in class on Friday April 8th. This assignment is due on Friday
10th June, 2022 at 10pm. Marking criteria for the final written case-based assignment will be
available on Learn.

Notes

Prerequisites
Entry subject to Head of Department approval.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,158.00

International fee $5,250.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All SPSC461 Occurrences

  • SPSC461-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023
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