Alternative Communication MethodsLaajuus (3 cr)

Objective

The course provides the basic capabilities for understanding the special needs related to the interaction of people with speech impairments and neuropsychiatric difficulties as well as interaction methods for communicating with them.

After completing the course, you are able to recognise special communication characteristics of people with speech impairments and neuropsychiatric difficulties as well as their support needs from the perspectives of everyday activity and participation. You know theoretical perspectives and concepts related to the development of speech and language as well as communication disorders and are able to apply their contents in describing the functional capacity of clients from the perspective of communication.

After completing the course, you know the most common alternative and augmentative communication methods and have also tried them in practice. Your competence in using alternative and augmentative communication methods increases or diversifies and you have concrete methods of engaging in dialogue with clients with speech impairments or neuropsychiatric difficulties. You also know the services and assistive devices available for people with speech impairments and are able to guide your clients in applying for them.

Content

The contents of the course include individual support needs of people with speech impairments and neuropsychiatric difficulties and the basics of communication rehabilitation and related theoretical perspectives and concepts.

The alternative and augmentative communication methods covered during the course include gesture and object communication, picture and symbol communication, drawing communication and plain language. The principles of social stories and comic strip conversations as well as structured pedagogy in supporting executive functions are also studied.

During the course, students will also get to know the services available for people with speech impairments and neuropsychiatric training from the viewpoint of interaction.

Qualifications

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Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1
The student is able to review services for people with speech impairments at an intermediate level in relation to interpreting and other support services.
The student is able to list and briefly review some of the communication characteristics of people with communication challenges. He/she is able to identify a specific theoretical perspective related to communication challenges and relate it to the description of the client's functional capacity. The student is able to select the appropriate communication support for the client.
2
The student can review services for people with speech impairments at a satisfactory level in relation to interpreting and other support services.
The learner will be able to list the specific features of the communication of people with different communication challenges and to consider support needs in terms of everyday functioning. The student is familiar with the theoretical perspectives related to communication challenges and be able to relate them to the description of the client's functional capacity. The student is able to select the appropriate communication support for the client and innovate new possibilities. The student is able to make use of sources.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3
The student will be able to consider services for people with speech impairments at a high level, taking into account both interpreting services and other possible support measures.
The student will be able to identify the specific features of the communication of people with communication challenges and to consider support needs in terms of everyday functioning and inclusion. They are familiar with theoretical perspectives and concepts related to communication challenges and can use them to describe the client's functional capacity. The student will be able to select appropriate communication support for the client and innovate new possibilities. They will be able to use sources.

4
The student will be able to analyse services for people with speech and language impairments at a commendable level, taking into account both interpreting services and other possible interventions.
Students will be able to identify and articulate the communication characteristics of people with communication challenges in a comprehensive way and to take a broad view of support needs in terms of everyday functioning and inclusion. They are familiar with theoretical perspectives and concepts related to communication challenges and can use them to describe the client's functional capacity. The student will be able to select appropriate communication support for the client and innovate with reflection and new possibilities to enable client inclusion. Students will be able to use reliable sources.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student will be able to look at services for people with speech impairments at an excellent level, taking into account both interpreting services and other possible support measures.
They will be able to identify, structure and analyse the specific communicative features of people with communication challenges in a comprehensive and multifaceted way, and to take a broad view of support needs in terms of everyday functioning and inclusion. They are familiar with theoretical perspectives and concepts related to communication challenges and can use them in a variety of ways to describe the client's functional capacity. The student will be able to select appropriate communication support methods for the client and to innovate by reflecting and comparing new possibilities to enable the client's inclusion. The student is able to make use of reliable sources in a variety of ways and also brings out new perspectives outside the themes of the course.

Further information

Course participation requires that you have a smooth internet connection and a microphone and video connection in order to participate in the online teaching.

Execution methods

Toteutustavat The course is implemented in the form of online teaching.

The student may apply for accreditation based on corresponding competence acquired either in previous studies or in working life following the accreditation practices described in the study guide.
The student may also suggest completing the course through studification, in which case the student’s work tasks must include working with people with speech impairments.