Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this four year programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of the relevant areas of physics, linguistics, psychology, anatomy, physiology and health sciences to the assessment, treatment, management and prevention of disorders of communication and swallowing

• Elicit relevant information about a patient's communication or swallowing difficulties by means of sensitive interviewing and information gathering, and appropriate test and assessment procedures

• Practice ethical behaviour, which reflects ancient and modern values to do good and no harm to clients; accords them maximum autonomy, privacy and dignity; respects therapist-client confidentiality; and includes performance of the legal and moral duties of accurately recording, organising and storing client information in traditional and electronic forms

• Apply tested methods of clinical intervention and design treatment plans that take into account the particular social, cultural and personal needs of the client with a communication or swallowing disorder

• Care for individuals with a communication or swallowing disorder in a manner which respects the organisation of health and educational services in Ireland, as these relate to the delivery of speech and language therapy services

• Develop therapeutic relationships that promote the general health and wellbeing of clients with communication or swallowing disorders

• Operate supportively within health and education teams to highlight the impact of a communication or swallowing disorder on a client’s overall health and well-being and to provide leadership in the team when appropriate

• Recognise the importance of updating professional knowledge within a community of scholars of speech, language, hearing and swallowing science, and make rational and sensitive decisions based on the best available evidence

• Apply principles from qualitative and/or quantitative research paradigms to review and conduct relevant research in the fields of communication and swallowing disorders.