SPCHSCI 701 : Dysphagia for Speech Language Therapists
Science
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe normal swallowing to a patient or health professional. (Capability 1, 3, 6 and 7)
- Interpret how a patient’s aetiology might impact on swallowing function. (Capability 3 and 4)
- Apply knowledge of swallowing physiology across the ages to identify when it’s not normal. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Synthesise the clients information and how it impacts on eating and drinking to make effective clinical decisions. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of all the professionals in the dysphagia team. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge of assessment, VFSS, clinical evaluation, oro-motor assessment, observation assessment and case history. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8)
- Demonstrate principles of cultural competence and te Tiriti o Waitangi aspects of dysphagia assessment and management, including how this might impact on the life of the individual and their family/whānau. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8)
- demonstrate an ability to critically appraise the scientific literature in order to make evidence-based clinical decisions (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Critical appraisal | 5% | Group Coursework |
| Assessment of dysphagia | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Videofluoroscopy test | 10% | Individual Test |
| Management case study | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Online test | 35% | Individual Test |
| Cranial nerve test | 10% | Individual Test |
| 6 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Critical appraisal | ||||||||||
| Assessment of dysphagia | ||||||||||
| Videofluoroscopy test | ||||||||||
| Management case study | ||||||||||
| Online test | ||||||||||
| Cranial nerve test | ||||||||||
Key Topics
- Safety
- Biomechanics - normal mature swallow, development and sensory
- Clinical Assessment
- Instrumental assessment (VFSS)
- Planning and ethics
- Management
Special Requirements
Tuākana
This course is supported by the Tuākana in Science Programme, which facilitates the success and wellbeing of our Māori and Pacific students. The foundation of the Tuākana Programme is the Tuākana-Teina principle an integral relationship in which older or more expert Tuākana (traditionally brother, sister or cousin) guides a younger or less expert Teina (traditionally younger sibling or cousin). This is a reciprocal relationship which fosters safe learning and teaching environments. Read more here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 10 hours per week of self-directed learning, reading and thinking about the content and work on assignments and test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Online
The course will not include live online events such has group discussions/tutorials/lectures.
Attendance on campus is not required for the test.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
- Groher, M. & Crary, M. (2021) Dysphagia: Clinical Management in adults and children. Mosby.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Each week we will be in contact with you about the activities and learning for the week to come. Please do get in touch with us if you have questions or concerns. We encourage you to keep up with the schedule for the course, as the assignments do require time to prepare for and complete.
Other Information
As well as this course outline, there is a set of general principles that apply to all Speech Science courses. There is a document titled “Speech Science General conditions for 700-Level Courses”. This document covers aspects of academic integrity, marking, communication and e-mail. Please ensure that you have read this document, as you will be assumed to be familiar with its content. Please read this document for all general information about marking and assignment submissions, as well as communication with staff and additional support.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.