Children and youth with language disorders, 4.5 credits

For admission to semester 5, it is required that student may lack no more than 15 credits from preceding semesters within the Study Programme in Speech and Language Pathology

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• characterize language and communication in children and adolescents with a language disorder, according to language domains in a developmental perspective as well as possible comorbidity and contextual factors
• describe, explain and compare different theories of causes of language and communication disorders
• describe methods for assessing language and communication as well as analysis and interpretion of results as a basis for diagnostics of language disorder
• describe, explain and compare models of intervention based on current evidence
• characterise different means of alternative and augmentative communication and discuss their advantages and disadvantages and describe procedures for constructions of the vocabulary

The course includes basic theoretical knowledge of the occurrence and causes of speech and communication disorders in children and adolescents. Further, it contains characteristics of the difficulties from different language domains (phonology, grammar, semantics and pragmatics) and under different conditions (e.g. hearing impairment, neurological developmental aberrations and cognitive disabilities), diagnostics and models of intervention. Aspects of multilinguality and language disorder are highlighted, as well as possible consequences of the difficulties for the individual and their family. A developmental perspective on language disorders pervades the perspective of the course. Knowledge is established on such a level that it can be discussed with individuals from other professions.

Lectures, group discussions, seminars and exercises.

Group discussions, seminars and exercises are compulsory.

The course coordinator decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the course coordinator. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Individually written assignment, active participation in compulsory group discussion/seminars and written examination

In case of absence from a compulsory part, the student is responsible for contacting the course coordinator for a complementary assignment.

The written examination is graded anonymously (using an identification number for each student). Students who do not pass the written examination are entitled to five more examination sessions, the first within fourteen days of the notification of the exam result. The third examination session is the next regular examination session of the course. Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination.

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the autumn semester of 2017. Examination will be provided until the autumn semester of 2019 for students who have not completed the course.
 

The course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education.