Skip to main content
Unit of study_

CSCD2057: Child Language

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

Students will develop knowledge and skills in working with children with developmental language disorders from birth to the end of primary school. Topics covered includes the nature of developmental language disorder and evidence-based practices and techniques in assessment, diagnosis, management planning and treatment. Age ranges covered includes prelinguistic infants, toddlers, preschoolers and primary school-aged children. This unit provides students essential knowledge and skills for Speech Pathology clinical units and practice as a Speech Pathologist.

Unit details and rules

Unit code CSCD2057
Academic unit Communication Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
CSCD1032 and CSCD1034
Corequisites
? 
CSCD2064 or CSCD2065
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Katrina Gott, katrina.gott@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Katrina Gott, katrina.gott@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Kimberley Docking, kimberley.docking@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Clinical speech pathology child language exam
Canvas open book 2.5 hour timed final exam
50% Formal exam period 2.5 hours
Assignment group assignment Child language assessment plan
Child case study
50% Week 08 8 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO14 LO16 LO17 LO19
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Child language assessment plan: In your small group, you will be required to develop an assessment plan for one of the two provided cases. Based on evidence-based practice, your assignment must justify the selected clinical procedures in your assessment plan as they relate to the child’s language/communication status, his/her cultural and social practices and family centred practice.
  • Child Case-based individual exam: This exam will require you to integrate knowledge learned during this unit. You will be presented with some short infant, preschool, and school age cases. There will be a series of questions about each case.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture 1: Overview and introduction to DLD Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO14 LO15 LO16 LO17 LO19
Tutorial 1: Assessment of DLD Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO14 LO15 LO16 LO17
Week 02 Lecture 2: Assessment of DLD Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO16 LO17 LO19
Tutorial 2: Assessment planning for preschoolers Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO11
Week 03 Lecture 3: Assessment of DLD in Preschoolers Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO8 LO14
Tutorial 3: Language sample analysis Tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 04 Lecture 4: Assessment of DLD in babies and toddlers Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Tutorial 4: Preschool diagnostic case - study Tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO5 LO9
Week 05 Lecture 5: Assessment of DLD in school - age children Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9 LO16 LO18
Tutorial 5: Case-based assessment planning for school-aged children Tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO14 LO15 LO16 LO17 LO18
Week 06 Lecture 6: Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children Lecture (2 hr) LO8 LO10 LO12 LO13
Tutorial 6: Language disorder versus difference: case examples Tutorial (1 hr) LO12 LO13 LO18 LO19
Week 07 Lecture 7: Intervention, therapy & management planning principles in DLD Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO14 LO15 LO17 LO18
Week 7: Assignment preparation and questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO16 LO19
Week 08 Lecture 8: Intervention with pre-school children (developing language) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11
Tutorial 8: SALT language analysis to goal setting Tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO16
Week 09 Lecture 9: Intervention with babies (pre-linguistic) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11
Tutorial 9: Preschool case: developing goals and selecting intervention approaches Tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO17
Week 10 Lecture 10: Intervention with toddlers (emerging language) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11
Tutorial 10: Baby and toddler cases Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11 LO16
Week 11 Lecture 11: Intervention for DLD with school-age children Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11 LO14 LO15 LO17 LO18
Tutorial 11: School-age language intervention techniques Tutorial (1 hr) LO4 LO7 LO8 LO16 LO19
Week 12 Lecture 12: Intervention for DLD in school-age children (continued) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO11 LO14 LO15 LO17 LO18
Tutorial 12: Working with DLD in schools Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO14 LO15 LO17 LO18
Week 13 Lecture 13: Revision and exam practice Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9 LO12 LO13 LO14 LO15 LO18
Tutorial 13: Putting it into practice: Final case application Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9 LO11 LO12 LO13 LO14 LO15 LO16 LO17 LO18 LO19

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials for the duration of the semester.

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

​All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Required Text:

Paul, R., Norbury, C. & Gosse, C. (2018) Language disorders: From infancy through adolescence (5th ed) Mosby; NY. 618.92855/PAU.

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. describe the stages of management when working with children who have a developmental language disorder (DLD) from initial referral to discharge
  • LO2. describe the nature of spoken DLD in pre-linguistic infants, toddlers, preschooler, and school-aged children
  • LO3. apply knowledge of language analysis to assess and interpret communication skills, and then plan communication goals for children needing language intervention
  • LO4. describe and explain key therapy approaches across the continuum of naturalness (clinician-directed, hybrid, and child centered), then choose, justify, and apply these approaches within management plans for children with spoken DLD
  • LO5. develop written assessment plans and management plans for children with spoken language disorder (pre-linguistic infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged)
  • LO6. describe health information (what DLD is, in addition to the prevalence, impact, potential outcomes, risk, and protective factors associated with DLD) in lay terms for parents, in addition to other health and education professionals
  • LO7. demonstrate the ability to communicate with children with DLD, through suitable play-based activities and appropriate verbal therapeutic dialogue
  • LO8. select and justify clinical procedures (e.g. assessments, goal setting, and intervention) related to the child’s language/communication status, his/her cultural and social practices, family centered practice, and evidence-based practice
  • LO9. exercise critical judgement in the interpretation of assessment results, including selecting appropriate norms and health information (considering normal communication development), determining gaps in information and integrating information from a range of sources
  • LO10. use information technology to locate peer reviewed research evidence, locate and create clinical resources for children with DLD, and interact with public awareness resources about DLD
  • LO11. create innovative, engaging, and culturally appropriate clinical resources for children with DLD
  • LO12. demonstrate knowledge of the recommended best practices for the provision of culturally competent and safe services to multilingual children with DLD
  • LO13. demonstrate awareness of cultural and linguistic difference in communication development in cultures relevant to the Australian context, and differentiate this from DLD
  • LO14. list the health and education professionals that may be involved in working with children with DLD
  • LO15. describe how speech pathologists work with other professionals in a range of team models (e.g. multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary)
  • LO16. operate effectively and ethically as a team member for teaching/learning activities and assessment tasks
  • LO17. learn to identify yourself as a speech pathologist when working in a variety of contexts including schools, clinics, teams with multiple disciplines, and other community contexts
  • LO18. list professional bodies, organisations (e.g. RADLD) and community activities through which SLPs can enhance public awareness of DLD in children, the prevalence and impact of DLD, and value of SLP intervention for young children
  • LO19. demonstrate the capacity to play a range of roles within a team including being a leader as well as a valuable member of a team.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
Competency-based Occupational Standards for Speech Pathologists -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1 A Investigate and document the client’s communication and/or swallowing condition and explore the primary concerns of the client.
1.2 A Identify the communication and/or swallowing conditions requiring investigation and use the best available scientific and clinical evidence to determine the most suitable assessment procedures in partnership with the client.
1.3 T P Administer speech pathology assessment relevant to the communication and/or swallowing condition.
1.4 A Undertake assessment within the ethical guidelines of the profession and all relevant legislation and legal constraints, including medico-legal responsibilities.
2.1 A T P Analyse and interpret speech pathology assessment data.
2.2 A Identify gaps in information required to understand the client’s communication and swallowing issues and seek information to fill those gaps.
2.3 A Determine the basis for or diagnosis of the communication and/or swallowing condition and determine the possible outcomes.
2.5 A Provide feedback on results of interpreted speech pathology assessments to the client and/or significant others and referral sources, and discuss management.
3.1 A Use integrated and interpreted information (outlined in Unit 2) relevant to the communication and/or swallowing condition, and/or the service provider’s policies and priorities to plan evidence-based speech pathology practice.
3.2 A Seek additional information required to plan evidence-based speech pathology practice.
3.3 A Discuss long-term outcomes and collaborate with the client and/or significant others to decide whether or not speech pathology strategies are suitable and/or required.
3.4 A Establish goals for intervention in collaboration with the client and significant others.
3.5 A Select an evidence-based speech pathology approach or intervention in collaboration with the client and significant others.
3.6 A Define roles and responsibilities for the management of the client’s swallowing and/ or communication condition.
4.4 A Document progress and changes in the speech pathology intervention, including outcomes, decisions and discharge plans.
4.5 A Identify the scope and nature of speech pathology practice in a range of community and work place contexts.
4.6 A Undertake preventative, educational and/or promotional projects or programs on speech pathology and other related topics as part of a team with other professionals.
5.6 A Adhere to professionally accepted scientific principles in work practices.
6.1 A Develop, contribute to, and maintain professional and team based relationships in practice contexts.

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback has facilitated a streamlining of the course content and delivery schedule. Student feedback on lectures and tutorials is welcome at any time.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.