Biomedical subjects

Alison Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to Alison Ferguson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Competency-based occupational standards: influences on Australian speech pathology education.

Speech Pathology Australia developed competency-based occupational standards in response to a national government initiative across all professions and these standards have formed the basis for the accreditation process of speech pathology education programmes in Australia since 1994. This paper presents a critical appraisal of the contribution of a competency framework to curricular design, focussing on both content coverage and teaching methodologies. Also, the assessment of learning promoted through a competency-based framework is considered in relation to models of critical thinking.

Australia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intonation in partner accommodation for aphasia: a descriptive single case study.

UNLABELLED: Previous research has suggested that speaking partners adjust their intonation when conversing with people who are ill or elderly. In the descriptive case study presented in this paper we ask, what adjustments in intonation might be made by the communication partner of an aphasic speaker? A sociolinguistic, semantic analysis of intonation was used to describe the intonation pattern used by the neighbor of an aphasic speaker, during a 15-min natural interaction with the aphasic speaker, his wife, and the first author. The neighbor was found to make more use of two dimensions of intonation that reflected differences in her relationship to the information conveyed, when addressing the aphasic speaker in contrast to when addressing his wife. Firstly, she made proportionally more use of pitch movements associated with referring to shared information, and secondly, she made more use of marked tones (rising-falling, and rising tones). We discuss whether the observed differences may represent an accommodation to speaking to a person with aphasia. LEARNING OUTCOMES: The reader will be able: (1) to recognize the role of intonation in discourse as a resource for the exchange of interpersonal meaning, and (2) to identify when speakers are using intonation as part of their speech accommodation for aphasia.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A preliminary investigation of the impact of stuttering on language use.

This paper reflects on the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to the field of stuttering. It is argued that the SFL theory may offer insight into the impact that stuttering has on language use. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the application of SFL theory. The two SFL analyses found to be of most use in this pilot study were the analysis of how language is modulated in response to interpersonal aspects of communication (modality) and the analysis of how information is foregrounded (theme). The implications of applying the SFL model to consideration of the utilisation of language resources in people who stutter are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reflections on speech-language therapists' talk: implications for clinical practice and education.

BACKGROUND: Research into the practices of speech-language therapists in clinical sessions is beginning to identify the way communication in clinical interactions both facilitates and potentially impedes the achievement of therapy goals. AIMS: This target article aims to raise the issues that arise from critical reflections on the communication of speech-language therapists for both clinical practice and clinical education of future speech-language therapists. METHODS & PROCEDURES: The paper reviews the past and current literature into the communication of speech-language therapists with their clients and provide examples drawn from the authors' own empirical research. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: It is argued that one cannot assume that the current rhetoric regarding collaborative practice matches what is currently done in clinical work. CONCLUSIONS: This paper calls attention to the need to evaluate critically the processes and nature of acculturation that occurs during the first stages of professional development as a student speech-language therapist through to the ongoing development of professional practice.

Acculturation↗