School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Assessment and Management of Swallowing Disorders
  • Unit Code

    SPE3125
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Katina SWAN

Description

This unit explores the clinical management of swallowing disorders. Students design and implement protocols for the assessment of swallowing and interpret assessment results for diagnosis of impairment. Students examine a variety of available management options and their evidence base as well as interpret the factors that may impact on the selection of intervention approaches. Specific intervention characteristics including treatment hierarchies, rationales and relevant outcome measures will be discussed. Management decisions will be planned in the context of clinical case studies.

Prerequisite Rule

Student must have completed SPE2104 and SPE2106.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate swallowing assessment procedures using contemporary research literature.
  2. Differentiate between typical and atypical swallow function of individuals.
  3. Apply normative structure and function, contemporary research and individual client factors to evaluate, assess and manage the swallowing disorders of individuals.
  4. Design and implement management protocols for individuals with dysphagia.

Unit Content

  1. Applications of the WHO ICF framework.
  2. Evidence-based assessments and interventions for dysphagia.
  3. Neuroanatomical and physiological bases.
  4. Family-centered and collaborative models.
  5. Long-term implications of swallow impairments.
  6. Clinical decision making.
  7. Role of other professionals, client and their significant others.
  8. Cultural diversity.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

The on-campus seminars are highly interactive and are used to introduce the central concepts of the unit and to guide students through the literature. Students participate in learning activities involving group discussion, case studies and role-play scenarios to consolidate their learning. Some lectures will be delivered by guests in the field. Compulsory participation for some workshops and clinical performance tasks are required in order for students to develop clinical competencies in assessment and treatment of clients with dysphagia. Students are assessed on their clinical performance in assessment and treatment simulations.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestAnatomy and Physiology for Swallowing10%
Case Study ^Assessment Interpretation, Treatment Planning and Implementation for Paediatric Dysphagia40%
Examination ^Assessment and Treatment: Planning and Implementation for Adult Dysphagia50%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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