Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences Post-Baccalaureate Courses

This course provides an introduction of the role and services provided by Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. These services include assisting childhood language development, identifying acquired injuries or medical diagnoses that may lead to cognitive-linguistic impairment, and demonstrating an SLP's role in geriatric diagnoses and patient-centered care. Expected outcomes of this course are that the student will demonstrate an understanding of the role of the SLP in caring for individuals and the skills required to work in interdisciplinary teams to improve client lives. Understanding the impairments SLPs may encounter provides a better understanding of the scope of SLP practice and various career pathways.

ASHA Knowledge and Skills Standards

• Standard IV-C for knowledge about the etiology and characteristics of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan
• Standard IV-D for knowledge about the prevention, assessment, and intervention of communication and swallowing disorders
• Standard IV-E for knowledge of standards of ethical conduct
• Standard IV-G for knowledge of contemporary professional issues in speech-language pathology
• Standard V-C for partial completion of 25 clock hours of clinical observation

Basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases

Principles and methods of identification of communication and swallowing disorders and differences

Receptive and expressive language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, prelinguistic communication, and paralinguistic communication) in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and manual modalities

Intervention for communication and swallowing differences with individuals across the lifespan to minimize the effect of those disorders and differences on the ability to participate as fully as possible in the environment

In-depth study of the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory, phonatory, and resonatory systems and their neurological underpinnings. Each systems’ contributions to spoken communication and involvement in linguistic communication are placed in the context of all the body systems involved in speech production.

Standard IV-A

The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge of statistics as well as the biological, physical, and social/behavioral sciences.

Embryology, anatomy, and physiology of the auditory, vestibular, and related body systems

Standard III-B. 1.A.

1. The student will demonstrate the ability to apply basic anatomical and physiological concepts relating to the respiratory system to normal aspects of phonation and speech.
2. The students will demonstrate the ability to apply basic anatomical and physiological concepts relating to the phonatory system to normal aspects of phonation and speech.
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to apply basic anatomical and physiological concepts relating to the articulatory system to normal aspects of speech.

Standard III-B, 1.B.

1. The student will explain neuroscience fundamentals related to the central and peripheral nervous system.
2. The student will explain concisely a structural overview of the nervous system relevant to basic human communication processes.
3. The student will explain concisely a functional overview of the nervous systems relevant to basic human communication processes.

This course introduces the basic principles of acoustics as related to speech and hearing. A particular focus is placed on the analysis of acoustic characteristics of speech, physiological correlates, and speech perception.

1. Each student will recall the anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism as a basis for learning the concepts of speech science.
2. Each student will define terms related to sound, acoustics, speech perception and speech production.
3. Each student will identify the neuroanatomical structures involves in speech perception and speech production.
4. Each student will describe the neuroanatomical pathways related to speech perception and speech production.
5. Each student will explain the importance of analyzing speech related to clinical practice.
6. Each student will describe theories of speech perception.

This course will cover the theoretical and descriptive frameworks for studying language development. This course will explore the stages and processes of language development and the components of language development (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics). It will also cover impact of bilingualism and bimodal language acquisition. Methods for describing language performance and documenting language growth will be reviewed, as well.

1. Describe the processes of normal communication/language development and the major developmental features that are characteristic of different stages of language acquisition (ASHA KASA Standard III-B; Knowledge of basic human communication such as biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases.
2. Give examples of social and cultural impacts on language acquisition (ASHA KASA Standard III-B; Culturally Sensitive, Knowledgeable, Reflective)
3. Describe the major components and characteristics of at least three theories of language acquisition (ASHA KASA Standard III-C; Knowledgeable)
4. Explain the relationship between cognitive development and language development(ASHA KASA Standard III-C; Knowledgeable, Reflective)
5. Describe the tenets behind the biological bases for language development (ASHA KASAStandard III-C; Knowledgeable, Reflective)
6. Analyze language samples characteristic of different stages of development (ASHA KASAStandard III-D; Decision Makers, Lifelong Learners)

This course introduces the field of audiology. It covers the anatomy, physiology, and common pathologies of the auditory system. It also addresses the impact of hearing loss, types of hearing loss, characteristics of hearing loss, assessment procedures of hearing, interpretation of audiological assessments, and management of hearing loss.

• IV-B: Knowledge of Basic Communication
• IV-G: Professional Issues
• IV-H: Professional Credentials
• IV-C: Communication Disorder
• IV-D: Prevention, assessment, intervention
• IV-E: Ethics

Embryology, anatomy, and physiology of the auditory, vestibular, and related body systems

Normal aspects of auditory and vestibular function across the lifespan

Normal aspects of speech production and language function across the lifespan

Normal aspects of speech perception across the lifespan

Effects and role of genetics in auditory function, diagnosis, and management of hearing loss

Effects of pathophysiology on the auditory, vestibular, and related body systems

Effects of hearing loss on the speech and language characteristics of individuals across the life span and the continuum of care

The use of screening tools for functional assessment

Applying psychometrics and principles of screening

Applying the principles of evidence-based practice

Phonetics is an introductory study of speech sounds, their production, their acoustic properties, and their classification. This course describes the principles and fundamental nature of phonetics, especially as it applies to speech-language and hearing sciences. It will involve both general and specific theories and facts in phonetics and the development of practical skills (e.g., phonetic transcription skills) for those interested in speech-language pathology. Topics covered include place and manner of articulation, airstream mechanisms, the aerodynamic myoelastic theory of vocal fold vibration, source-filter theory, the relation between airflow and turbulence, resonance and anti-resonance, speech suprasegmentals, hearing mechanisms, speech perception, and phonology. A 1 credit portion of the course is designed to acquaint students with transcription techniques utilizing the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA.

1. Students will describe the anatomy and physiology of speech production. 
2. Students will use the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe typical, different, and disordered speech. 
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of coarticulation and its impact on sound production. 
4. Students will be able to identify typical and disordered speech