Unit of Study SPCH2011 Communication Development Across the Lifespan (2026)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Health
Placement

No

Unit description

This unit explores typical communication and swallowing development across the lifespan. Students will develop practical skills in observing, recording and synthesising information via a case history interview on children and adults. Additionally, students will reflect on the social determinants of health, using a strengths-based approach to consider how the circumstances in which people are born, grow, work, live and age impact communication development and health outcomes. This unit is integral to support holistic consideration of person and family-centred care to guide speech pathology assessment and intervention.

Unit content

This unit covers content in three areas:

Communication and swallowing development in infants, children and adolescents
Communication and swallowing in adulthood
Reflect on the social determinants of health as related to communication and swallowing

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Coffs Harbour	Term2	Term2
Gold Coast	Term2	Term2

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

describe key stages of communication and swallowing development and the relationship between communication development and other developmental domains across the lifespan

record, analyse and report observations of typical communication behaviours in child and adult populations

conduct a case history interview and synthesis information gained about communication, swallowing and other medical and social history

reflect on the social determinants of health using a strengths-based approach

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Report	40%
Presentation	60%

Teaching method

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Report	40%
Presentation	60%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
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Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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