Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Neurologically Based Comunicative Disorders
Course Code
REK_231
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Rehabilitation
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ilze Blūmentāle
Structure Unit Manager
Liāna Deklava
Structural Unit
Department of Rehabilitation
Contacts
Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, rk@rsu.lv, +371 20271291
About Study Course
Objective
Within the course, students acquire theoretical knowledge and practical experience regarding acquired neurological communication and language disorders in adults. During the study process, students develop an in-depth understanding of communication, speech, and language disorders, as well as other disorders associated with brain damage, including aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, cognitive impairments, and others. Using an evidence-based approach, students develop the ability to assess, analyse, and interpret acquired communication, language, and speech disorders in adults. They also acquire the ability to analyse and integrate assessment results in order to plan appropriate intervention or therapy (targeting language, communication, and cognitive skills), while respecting the individual’s functional level and needs.
Within the framework of the course, students develop scientific research skills through the preparation of a course paper and further enhance their ability to formulate and practically demonstrate intervention options and methods in collaboration with the client both in face-to-face settings and remotely (in a telemedicine environment), working individually or in groups.
Preliminary Knowledge
Neurology. Anatomy and histology. Normal physiology and neurophysiology.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students will be able to: *list the etiology, risk factors, clinical signs, and types of acquired neurological communication disorders; *describe the types of aphasia classification, the characteristics of different forms of aphasia, and their clinical manifestations; *list the types of agnosia and apraxia and explain their impact on a person’s functioning and communication; *describe communication and language disorders associated with cognitive impairments; *identify the principles and methods for assessing communication, speech, and language disorders based on scientific literature and an evidence-based approach; *describe intervention and therapy options for acquired neurological communication disorders; *interpret communication strategies used in working with adults with acquired communication disorders; *determine possibilities for organizing intervention both in face-to-face settings and remotely (telemedicine), working individually and in groups.
Skills
1.Students will be able to: *demonstrate an evidence-based approach in the assessment and diagnosis of acquired communication, language, speech, as well as agnosia and apraxia disorders; *analyse and integrate assessment results and other relevant clinical information in order to determine appropriate intervention and therapy goals; *apply appropriate evidence-based restorative and compensatory communication and language therapy methods, using critical thinking and creatively developing the necessary therapeutic materials; *integrate practical skills into their professional practice through the analysis and management of clinical cases; *demonstrate research skills in both professional and academic environments by conducting a study within the framework of a course paper.
Competences
1.On successful acquisition of the course the students: *Using the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course on acquired neurological communication disorders and the developed practical skills, students will be able to assess signs of communication and language disorders, as well as agnosia and apraxia, identify and diagnose the respective disorders, and plan appropriate evidence-based therapy. *Based on the analysis of the obtained information and taking into account the patient’s individual level of functioning and needs, students will be able to set professional goals and implement them by applying various therapeutic approaches and methods. *Students will be able to integrate the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the course into their professional practice as audiologopedists during clinical practice. By using various communication strategies and digital competencies in the organization of healthcare services, students will be able to effectively address problem situations encountered in professional practice.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
60.00% from total grade
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10 points
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
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|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
40.00% from total grade
|
10 points
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9 tests during the study course |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Non-Fluent Forms of Aphasia
Topics covered:
Clinical presentation and analysis of non-fluent aphasia;
Broca’s aphasia;
Transcortical motor aphasia (TMA);
Global aphasia.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Fluent Forms of Aphasia
Topics covered:
Clinical presentation and analysis of fluent aphasia;
Wernicke’s aphasia (sensory aphasia);
Transcortical sensory aphasia;
Conduction aphasia;
Anomic aphasia.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Cognitive Disorders, Dementia – Therapy Options
Topics covered:
RehaCom Overview: RehaCom is a comprehensive and innovative computerized cognitive rehabilitation software system. It is an evidence-based, clinically validated, and safe method for the assessment and training of cognitive-perceptual functions.
Assessment Modules: The RehaCom system includes nine cognitive screening modules and 26 cognitive training modules. Therapists can use the screening and training modules either in combinat
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Therapy Options for Fluent Aphasia – Clinical Case Analysis
Topics covered:
Analysis of clinical cases of fluent aphasia;
Therapy options for fluent aphasia;
Clinical case simulation.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Lecture: Tactile Agnosia
Tactile agnosia, types of tactile agnosias, causes, and clinical manifestations;
Assessment of tactile agnosia from an audiologist’s perspective;
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) support options and strategies in cases of tactile agnosia.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Vision and hearing agnosia
What visual and auditory agnosias are;
Types, causes, and clinical manifestations of visual and auditory agnosias;
Assessment of visual and auditory agnosias from an audiologist’s perspective;
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) support options and strategies in cases of visual and auditory agnosias.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Therapy Options for Cognitive Disorders and Rehabilitation Planning
Therapy options for cognitive function disorders, including restorative and compensatory approaches;
Therapy planning;
Development of a rehabilitation plan, including formulation of short-term and long-term goals.
Activities during the session:
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Lecture: Apraxia
In the lecture, we will discuss:
Apraxia, types of apraxia, and clinical manifestations;
Assessment of apraxia signs from an audiologist’s perspective;
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) support options and strategies in cases of apraxia;
Oral apraxia and speech apraxia.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Therapy Options for Communication, Language, and Speech Disorders
Topics covered:
Development of a rehabilitation plan, including formulation of short-term and long-term goals;
Therapy options for communication, language, and cognitive disorders.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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4
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Topics
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Communication and Language Assessment in Adults – Clinical Signs of Aphasia
Topics covered:
Assessment of communication and language in adults, including naming, repetition, narrative production, and other relevant tasks;
Clinical signs of aphasia.
Activities during the session:
Presentation of course paper topic ideas (up to 3 minutes per student/group).
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Session Activities:
Group project presentations;
Practical demonstration of therapy techniques, accompanied by a presentation;
Presentation of course papers.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Therapy Options for Non-Fluent Aphasia – Clinical Case Analysis
Topics covered:
Analysis of clinical cases, including patient history, assessment, goal setting, and selection of appropriate therapy methods;
Clinical case simulation based on a structured, evidence-based approach.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Management of Cognitive Disorders in Clinical Practice – Structured Clinical Simulation with Rotations
Topics covered:
Recognition of cognitive disorder manifestations in functional behavior.
Analysis of impairments in cognitive processes, including attention, memory, executive functions, and orientation, based on patient behavior and performance of daily activities.
Interpretation of assessment data and linking results to functional limitations.
Clinical reasoning: deriving hypotheses abou
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Assessment of Cognitive Functions
Objective of the session:
To explore the possibilities of assessing cognitive function disorders in audiologist practice across various clinical conditions, to learn the parameters for selecting appropriate assessment tools, and to gain practical experience in administering these tests.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Aphasia.
n the lecture, we will discuss:
What aphasia is;
Classification of aphasia, clinical forms, and clinical signs.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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4
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Topics
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Lecture: Cognitive Disorders in Adults – Patient Assessment
Causes of cognitive disorders: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury;
Characteristics and clinical signs of cognitive disorders;
Patient assessment.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
64 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Defence (Semester paper)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Bar-On, Amalia; Ravid, Dorit; Dattner, Elitzur. 2018 (863-958). Handbook of Communication Disorders: Theoretical, Empirical, and Applied Linguistic Perspectives, Boston: De Gruyter, Inc.
2.
Dalia Cahana-Amitay. 2015. Redefining Recovery from Aphasia, Oxford University Press, Incorporated
3.
Helm-Estabrooks, N., Albert, Martin L., Nicholas, M. 2014. Manual of aphasia and aphasia therapy. Austin, Texas: PRO-ED.
4.
A Coursebook on Aphasia and Other Neurogenic Language Disorders Autors Hegde, M. N Izdošanas ziņas San Diego: Plural Publishing, Incorporated Izveidošanas gads 2022
Additional Reading
1.
Joan C. Payne. 2015. Supporting Family Caregivers of Adults With Communication Disorders : A Resource Guide for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Plural Publishing, Incorporated
2.
Rogers, Christina T. 2016. Aphasia: Clinical Manifestations, Treatment Options and Impact on Quality of Life, New York : Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
3.
Andrejs Millers. 2013. Cerebrāla infarkta prehospitālās aprūpes, diagnostikas un akūtas ārstēšanas klīniskās vadlīnijas. Rīga : Latvijas Neirologu biedrība
Other Information Sources
1.
European Speech and Language Therapy Association
2.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association