Program Overview

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Unit Overview

The unit SPHY200 - Neuroscience Speech Pathology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system and its relevance to speech pathology practice.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The unit aims to enable students to develop a solid foundation in neuroscience knowledge for application to future theoretical and clinical learning related to speech pathology management. Practitioners of Speech Pathology require a sound understanding of the relevant structures and functions of the central and peripheral nervous system to understand communication and swallowing processes and how disease or dysfunction affects them.

Campus Offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

The prerequisite for this unit is SPHY102 Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Pathology.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

1. Explain in detail the normal structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems relevant to speech pathology practice using correct terminology.
2. Apply knowledge of the normal structure and function of the central nervous system to determine or predict the consequences of damage or diseases affecting these structures.
3. Interpret the results of basic testing of the cranial nerves, sensori-motor, and cognitive functions relevant to speech pathology practice.
4. Relate principles of neuroplasticity to the assessment, treatment, and management of neurological conditions relevant to speech pathology.

Content

Topics will include:

• Importance of neuroscience to the practice of speech pathology
• Structure and function of the nervous system
• Neurological development, neural plasticity, and major changes across the lifespan
• The central nervous system related to normal movement, sensory, speech, and swallowing functions
• The peripheral nervous system related to normal speech and swallowing functions
• Neural pathways
• Neurological organization
• Functional impact of damage or disorder to CNS, PNS, and neural pathways

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The unit aims to develop students' foundational knowledge around the functions and processes of the nervous system relevant to speech pathology. A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with university assessment requirements.

Assessments

• Quizzes: Enables students to demonstrate their ability to identify and understand key terms, structures, and their related functional processes. (20%)
• Mid-semester test: Enables students to communicate in written format their understanding of structures and key concepts, as well as apply their understanding to straightforward applied scenarios. (40%)
• Written examination: Enables students to understand, recall, and retrieve key concepts around both normal and abnormal states. (40%)

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of learning with a combination of face-to-face lectures and interactive face-to-face tutorials, as well as self-led learning. Lectures provide an opportunity to present key concepts and relationships in a structured framework, and to demonstrate with practical examples.

Representative Texts and References

A list of representative texts and references is provided for further reading and research.

Credit Points

This unit is worth 10 credit points.

Year

The unit is offered in the year 2026.