Voice Disorders, 6 credits

For admission to courses in semester 6, it is required that students may lack no more than 15 credits from preceding semesters in the Study Programme in Speech and Language Pathology.
In addition, the grade Pass, is required in the course Medicine 2 pathology, speech and voice physiology and audiology, semester 2.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe prevalence, aetiology, vocal cord status, voice quality and symptoms in common and less frequently prevalent voice disorders including patients in highly specialized care.
• Explain the meaning of work-related voice disorders and voice ergonomics and justify the importance of including this knowledge in medical history intake, counselling, prevention and intervention based on current research.
• Compare different questionnaires about patient's subjective perception about his/her voice problems and which consequences the voice problems may have in everyday life.
• Assess need of intervention for different voice disorders and after laryngectomy as well as justify choice of intervention method including technical aids based on current research and available information
• Account for the importance of the technical equipment, the acoustic environment as well as calibration, for the sound recording of voice and speech in order to document and evaluate treatment in reliable ways.
• Use audio-perceptual acoustic and aerodynamic methods of relevance for assessing different types of voice disorders and interpret the results.

The course contain facts about common and unusual voice disorders regarding prevalence, aetiology, vocal fold status, voice quality, symptom and activity and participation restriction in communicative situations as well as facts about rehabilitation after laryngectomy Information about intervention for different voice disorders, voice ergonomic aspects and prevention based on current research is presented. Methods for audio-perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic analyses of voice and speech are described as well as instrument for assessing patients' ratings of his/her problems to be used when assessing voice disorders and evaluation of intervention outcomes.

Lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions and practical exercises individually and in groups.
Compulsory attendance for all learning activities, apart from lectures, unless otherwise stated in the schedule.

In case of absence from compulsory activity, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the course coordinator to get a complementary assignment.

Active participation in practical exercises, laboratory sessions and group presentation. Assignments in the form of laboratory reports. Written examination Written and oral presentation of patient case based on specific questions.