Speech Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy of the Speech Mechanism

Covers respiratory, phonatory, resonatory, and articulatory structures involved in speech production. Establishes anatomical vocabulary essential for all subsequent clinical assessment work.

Lesson 2 • Neurological Bases of Communication

Examines brain regions and neural pathways governing speech and language. Connects neuroanatomy to clinical presentations encountered throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to Communication Disorders

Defines the scope of speech-language pathology and major disorder categories. Orients students to the professional landscape before clinical skill-building begins.

Lesson 4 • Phonetics and Phonology Essentials

Introduces the International Phonetic Alphabet and phonological rule systems. Provides transcription skills used in articulation and phonological disorder assessment.

Lesson 1 • Standardised Assessment Tools

Examines norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests used across disorder areas. Students select appropriate tools based on age, disorder type, and clinical question.

Lesson 2 • Diagnostic Report Writing

Trains students to synthesise assessment data into clear, evidence-based diagnostic reports. Accurate reporting is the foundation for treatment planning and interprofessional communication.

Lesson 3 • Case History and Intake Procedures

Teaches structured collection of medical, developmental, and social history. Accurate intake data directly informs assessment tool selection and diagnostic reasoning.

Lesson 4 • Oral Mechanism Examination

Covers systematic evaluation of structural and functional integrity of speech subsystems. Findings guide differential diagnosis between structural and neurological aetiologies.

Lesson 1 • Phonological Intervention Approaches

Teaches minimal pairs, cycles, and complexity-based approaches for systemic phonological change. Students match approach to client profile and phonological error patterns.

Lesson 2 • Motor Speech Disorders in Children

Addresses childhood apraxia of speech and dysarthria assessment and treatment. Distinguishes motor speech profiles from phonological disorders for accurate intervention planning.

Lesson 3 • Traditional Articulation Therapy

Covers the sensorimotor approach including phoneme establishment, stabilisation, and generalisation. Provides a structured hierarchy applicable to single-sound error remediation.

Lesson 4 • Phonological Analysis Techniques

Applies independent and relational analysis to speech samples to identify error patterns. Pattern identification drives target selection for phonological intervention.

Lesson 1 • Pragmatic and Social Communication

Targets conversational rules, joint attention, and social inference in language-disordered children. Pragmatic competence enables functional participation in academic and social settings.

Lesson 2 • Syntax and Morphology Intervention

Addresses grammatical deficits using recasting, modelling, and structured input techniques. Morphosyntactic accuracy is critical for academic language and literacy outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Narrative and Discourse Skills

Develops story grammar, cohesion, and discourse organisation in children with language disorders. Narrative competence predicts literacy and social communication success.

Lesson 4 • Identifying Developmental Language Disorder

Defines developmental language disorder and distinguishes it from language difference and delay. Accurate identification prevents misdiagnosis and guides appropriate service delivery.

Lesson 1 • Fluency Shaping Techniques

Introduces prolonged speech, easy onset, and light articulatory contact to establish fluent speech. Shaping techniques provide a controlled fluency model for transfer and maintenance.

Lesson 2 • Stuttering Modification Therapy

Teaches cancellation, pull-out, and preparatory set techniques to reduce struggle and avoidance. Modification therapy targets the emotional and behavioural dimensions of stuttering.

Lesson 3 • Cluttering and Differential Diagnosis

Defines cluttering characteristics and distinguishes it from stuttering and other fluency disorders. Accurate differential diagnosis ensures appropriate treatment target selection.

Lesson 4 • Nature and Aetiology of Stuttering

Examines neurological, genetic, and psychosocial factors contributing to stuttering onset and persistence. Aetiological understanding informs individualized treatment goal-setting.

Lesson 1 • Perceptual and Instrumental Voice Assessment

Applies GRBAS scale, acoustic analysis, and aerodynamic measures to evaluate voice quality. Multimodal assessment provides a comprehensive baseline for treatment planning.

Lesson 2 • Special Populations in Voice Therapy

Addresses voice therapy for professional voice users, transgender clients, and post-laryngectomy patients. Population-specific goals require adapted assessment and intervention strategies.

Lesson 3 • Voice Disorder Classification

Categorizes voice disorders as functional, organic, or neurogenic with clinical examples. Classification guides referral decisions and treatment approach selection.

Lesson 4 • Vocal Hygiene and Behavioral Voice Therapy

Teaches hydration, vocal rest, and abuse reduction strategies alongside direct voice therapy techniques. Behavioral approaches address the most common functional voice disorder presentations.

Lesson 1 • Acquired Apraxia of Speech

Distinguishes acquired apraxia from aphasia and dysarthria through diagnostic features and assessment. Motor learning principles guide treatment intensity and practice structure.

Lesson 2 • Aphasia: Classification and Assessment

Covers aphasia syndromes, lesion correlates, and standardized and functional assessment tools. Accurate classification informs prognosis and guides treatment approach selection.

Lesson 3 • Aphasia Treatment Approaches

Teaches impairment-based, functional, and social participation approaches to aphasia rehabilitation. Students match treatment intensity and approach to client goals and recovery stage.

Lesson 4 • Cognitive-Communication Disorders

Addresses communication deficits associated with traumatic brain injury and right hemisphere damage. Intervention targets attention, memory, executive function, and discourse organization.

Lesson 1 • Clinical Swallowing Examination

Teaches bedside swallowing evaluation including oral mechanism exam, trial swallows, and aspiration screening. Clinical findings determine need for instrumental assessment and immediate diet modification.

Lesson 2 • Dysphagia in Special Populations

Addresses swallowing disorders in neonates, pediatric patients, and individuals with progressive neurological conditions. Population-specific physiology requires adapted assessment and management protocols.

Lesson 3 • Instrumental Swallowing Assessment

Covers videofluoroscopic swallowing study and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing procedures. Instrumental findings guide precise diagnosis and compensatory strategy selection.

Lesson 4 • Dysphagia Treatment Techniques

Applies compensatory strategies, postural adjustments, and rehabilitative exercises to improve swallowing safety. Treatment selection is matched to physiological impairment identified during assessment.