Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

The program in Speech-Language Pathology of The University of Akron is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The Doctor of Audiology program at the University of Akron, in association with the Northeast Ohio Audiology Consortium, is also accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers an undergraduate (preprofessional) program of academic training in speech-language pathology and audiology. Audiologists are hearing care specialists for evaluation and treatment of individuals with hearing and balance disorders. Scope of practice includes conducting hearing assessments, selecting and fitting hearing aids/assistive listening devices, programming cochlear implants, testing balance, and counseling regarding hearing loss. Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults with language, voice, fluency, articulatory and phonologic, cognitive and swallowing disorders. They provide assessment and treatment for these disorders as well as working in prevention of them.

Course work focuses on the evaluation and treatment of the many disordered communication processes. Students will also take SLPA 446 Observation and Clinical Techniques. This course includes accumulation of a minimum of 25 hours of supervised observation, as required for graduate study by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The pre-professional undergraduate program prepares students to pursue a master's degree, which is required for employment and licensure as a speech-language pathologist. A doctoral degree (Au.D.) is required for licensure as an audiologist.

Typical work settings for speech-language pathologists and audiologists include: schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice, physicians’ offices, industry and universities.

SLPA: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

SLPA 101 American Sign Language I (3 Units)

Introduction to American Sign Language: vocabulary building, beginning development of fingerspelling skills, receptive/expressive conversational skills. (Formerly 7700:101)

SLPA 102 American Sign Language II (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SLPA 101 or equivalent. Continued development of skills in American Sign Language: vocabulary building, further development of fingerspelling skills, receptive/expressive conversational skills. (Formerly 7700:102)

SLPA 110 Introduction to Disorders of Communications (3 Units)

Overview of various types of speech disorders; their incidence, etiology and characteristics. Basic concepts and principles underlying speech pathology. (Formerly 7700:110)

SLPA 201 American Sign Language III (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SLPA 102 or equivalent. Continued development of skills in American Sign Language: vocabulary building, fingerspelling skills, receptive/expressive conversational skills, and linguistic features of ASL. (Formerly 7700:201)

SLPA 202 American Sign Language IV (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SLPA 201. Further fluency development of expressive/receptive communication, fingerspelling, and linguistic features of ASL. (Formerly 7700:202)

SLPA 210 Introduction to Clinical Phonetics (4 Units)

Introduction to International Phonetic Alphabet. Transcription of normal speech. Overview of articulatory and acoustic phonetics. Introduction to distinctive features. (Formerly 7700:210)

SLPA 215 Introduction to Hearing and Speech Science (4 Units)

Introductory course covering the human hearing system and acoustics of hearing as well as principles involved in the production, transmission, and reception of the speech signal. (Formerly 7700:215)

SLPA 222 Survey of Deaf Culture in America (2 Units)

The deaf experience in America including historical, educational, legal, social, and occupational developments. (Formerly 7700:222)

SLPA 230 Language Science & Acquisition (4 Units)

An introduction to language science and the study of the language acquisition process. The characteristics and explanations of language development will be presented. (Formerly 7700:230)

SLPA 245 First Responders to the Deaf Community (4 Units)

Prerequisites: Completion of SLPA 201 with C or better. This course is required for the HSHS Manual Communication Certificate. It will emphasize ASL skills practical to first responders' needs. (Formerly 7700:245)

SLPA 295 Direct Experiences in the Hospital (3 Units)

Prerequisite: Permission of advisor. Individual learning experiences for students with patients, their families and the hospital personnel in various hospital settings under the direction of hospital and University staff. (Formerly 7700:295)

SLPA 321 Articulatory & Phonologic Disorders (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 110, SLPA 210, and admission into the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Study of disorders of articulation/phonology, including normal phonological developments, and assessment and remediation of phonological disorders. (Formerly 7700:321)

SLPA 330 Language Disorders (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 230 and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Etiology, identification, evaluation, intervention, remediation of symbolic, cognitive, interpersonal language disorders of children. Disorders viewed as correlates or sequelae of central nervous system dysfunction or emotional disturbance. (Formerly 7700:330)

SLPA 335 Principles of Audiology (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 215 and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Introduction to basic audiometric tests, principles of speech audiometry, masking, and impedance audiometry, 'test battery' approach. (Formerly 7700:335)

SLPA 345 Audiologic Treatment (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 335 and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Introduction to philosophy and methods of aural rehabilitation for children and adults. Includes methods of speech reading, auditory training, speech conservation, hearing aid use and combined visual and auditory approaches. (Formerly 7700:345)

SLPA 365 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing (3 Units)

Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 203 and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Study of the anatomy and physiology of organs directly and indirectly responsible for production of speech and perception of acoustical signals. (Formerly 7700:365)

SLPA 366 Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory (1 Unit)

Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, and BIOL 203 or instructor permission, and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Corequisite: SLPA 365. Laboratory to accompany lecture, includes hands-on experience with a variety of laboratory materials, primarily models and virtual dissection. (Formerly 7700:366)

SLPA 401 Professional Practice and Communications in Child Life (1 Unit)

Provide knowledge in the area of child life professional practice. Exploration of the tenets of the child life profession and identify essential professional concepts and attributes. (Formerly 7700:401)

SLPA 403 Professional Practice and Communications in Child Life (3 Units)

Provide the knowledge of child life professional practice,standards of clinical practice, competencies and ethics. Skills related to therapeutic communication with patients, families and staff will be explored and practiced. (Formerly 7700:403)

SLPA 422 Organic Disorders of Communication (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 230, SLPA 365, and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Surveys communication disorders that accompany acquired neurological impairments and neurodevelopmental syndromes. Introduces neurological models, classification systems, diagnostic and treatment procedures. (Formerly 7700:422)

SLPA 430 Aspects of Normal Language Development (3 Units)

(Not open to speech-language pathology and audiology majors) Introduction to acquisition and development of comprehension and production of language phonologically, semantically and syntactically. Relates language acquisition to perceptual development of child and looks at function of language in individual, family and school. (Formerly 7700:430)

SLPA 445 Multicultural Considerations for Audiologists & Speech-Language Pathologists (3 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 210, SLPA 321, SLPA 330, and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language and Audiology. This course introduces the multicultural considerations faced by audiologists and speech-language pathologists providing services to families and individuals with communication disorders. (Formerly 7700:445)

SLPA 446 Observation and Clinical Techniques (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SLPA 110, SLPA 210, SLPA 215, SLPA 230, and admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Tagged degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Introduction to concepts and processes of clinical practice in speech-language pathology and audiology. Includes clinical observation and case study. (Formerly 7700:446)

SLPA 452 Child, Illness and Loss (3 Units)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. This course examines the phenomena of illness, loss and bereavement in modern society with a special emphasis on children and families. (Formerly 7700:452)

SLPA 453 Facilitating Support Groups (3 Units)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Theories, strategies and skills needed to facilitate support groups for children and for adults are studied using a variety of approaches including participation in a support group. (Formerly 7700:453)

SLPA 454 Child in the Hospital (6 Units)

Prerequisite: CHFD 265, comparable course or permission of instructor. Seminar dealing with special needs and problems of hospitalized/ill child and family. Literature related to effects, separation, illness and stress. Examination of strategies for coping. (Formerly 7700:454)

SLPA 455 Practicum Experience in Child-Life Program (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SLPA 454. Field experience in a child-life program and classroom activities including critical analysis of a currently functioning program and program administration. (Formerly 7700:455)

SLPA 480 Seminar in Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology (2 Units)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Provides a vehicle for detailed study and discussion of various communicative disorders. (Formerly 7700:480)

SLPA 481 Special Projects: Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology (1-3 Units)

(May be repeated for a total of four credits) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Individual or group projects related to any of the problems of communicative disorders. (Formerly 7700:481)

SLPA 484 Hospital Settings, Children and Families (5 Units)

Prerequisite: CHFD 265, comparable course or permission of instructor. Focuses on hospital as a major social institution; introduces procedures and functions of the hospital; roles played by various hospital personnel plus cursory knowledge of medical terminology, common childhood diseases, illnesses and injuries. (Formerly 7700:484)

SLPA 485 Teaching & Learning Strategies in Speech-Language Pathology (2 Units)

Current practice related to clinical intervention designed for individuals with developmental disabilities. Explores the use of the natural environment and the computer as intervention tools. (Formerly 7700:485)

SLPA 494 Internship: Guided Experiences in Child Life Program (8 Units)

Prerequisite: SLPA 455. Field experience in a child-life program at an approved pediatric facility under the supervision of Child Life Specialists. (Formerly 7700:494)

SLPA 496 Senior Honors Project: Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology (1-3 Units)

(May be repeated for a total of six credits) Prerequisites: enrollment in the Honors Program, senior standing and major in speech-language pathology and audiology. (Formerly 7700:496)