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Speech Pathology

The School of Psychology is delighted to announce a new program in Speech Pathology

“The new Bachelor of Speech Pathology course drew me to ECU from another university. The staff members and services offered at ECU made my transition a smooth and successful one. What I like best about ECU is the friendly, nurturing atmosphere; there is a lot of support for students with varying needs as well as members of staff that will happily assist with any problem or query.

Enrolling in the new course proved to be a good idea. As early as first semester I had the opportunity to observe a day in the life of a speech pathologist. This was a great insight into the types of careers that I can pursue in the future, it helped me to decide whether this is what I want to do - it is! I have formed great relationships with the other students as well as the lecturers and other staff in the faculty. This is a course rich in new recourses and exciting opportunities!”
- Katie Milton

(Bachelor of Speech Pathology, Course Code: K71)

Speech Pathology is concerned with Communication and Swallowing Disorders. Both have a significant impact on an individual’s life by affecting everyday functions. Communication disorders can restrict a person’s ability to talk with family and friends, read a newspaper, write an email, and maintain a job, while swallowing disorders affect the most basic function of eating, enjoying food, and socialising around meals. Speech Pathology research explores the mechanisms behind these disorders and their effects on the person’s quality of life, as well as effects on significant others. Challenges posed include:  

• How does communication work?
• How do speech and language processes develop in children?
• How are speech and language processes impacted by developmental disabilities?
• How are they changed by brain injury and stroke?
• How do speech, language and swallowing change with aging and what changes can be expected in dementia?
• How can we improve or restore language, speech and swallowing skills when they are impaired?
• How can families and others be trained to assist the person with the communication or swallowing disorder and improve overall quality of life?
• How are communication disorders manifested across different cultures and languages?

Recent developments in Speech Pathology

The discipline of Speech Pathology has changed out of recognition in recent years. The technologies associated with the acoustic analysis of speech and voice, the control of movement for speech and swallowing, and the science of rehabilitation have witnessed major advances. Neighbouring disciplines and developments such as neuroscience, neuro-imaging, automatic speech recognition and communication technologies are already producing new ways to diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders. Speech pathologists are also now examining and treating the social consequences of these disorders. As well as being concerned with improving function in these areas, they are exploring the resultant social isolation often experienced, as well as successful ways that individuals have used to adapt to a variety of circumstances.

What is speech pathology, and what do speech pathologists do?

Speech pathologists generally work with people who have communication or swallowing disorders and their families. They are involved in diagnosis and treatment. They work as individuals or as members of multi-disciplinary teams comprising professionals such as audiologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, neurologists and teachers. They work in urban and rural settings in specialist clinics, schools, hospitals and community centres.

Communication and swallowing disorders emerge at any age, and they can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, they might involve a developmental or congenital condition in childhood; they could stem from an accident or neurological condition such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease in adulthood.

Is this the right course for you?

Speech Pathologists come into contact with people of all ages. They are professionals who are trained to work with a variety of health professionals, educational specialists, and neuroscientists. You should therefore be committed to a career working in a broad and rapidly developing field; you should be oriented toward working with people; and you should be capable of working independently or as part of a team, as circumstances dictate. The ECU program provides clinical experience throughout the course and provides students the opportunity to develop excellent interpersonal skills, as well as a solid grounding for lifelong learning. Academic staff at ECU have established research careers and boast a broad range of extensive clinical and teaching experience.

The program

The new course will prepare graduate speech pathologists for employment in the private and the public sectors. Students will experience urban, rural and remote working conditions; they will experience a variety of cultural contexts; and they will be prepared for work in an increasingly multi-lingual society.

The undergraduate program will involve fundamental and applied science. Learning will involve a rich mixture of lectures, problem- and case-based learning tutorials, laboratories, and clinical practice assignments under local and remote conditions. Honours and doctoral research will be encouraged.