New speech clinic offers practical opportunities for students
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Children participate in a program at the Macquarie University Speech Clinic |
The new Macquarie University Speech Clinic, opened late last year, offers practical opportunities for postgraduate students and treatment opportunities for members of the public.
The clinic, which is operated as a teaching and research facility for the Master of Speech and Language Pathology program, offers a paediatric and adult service catering for a range of communication disorders. Students see clients for assessment and intervention under the direct supervision of specialist clinicians and academic staff who are engaged in clinical research.
Services offered
Treatments are tailored to individual needs and aim to assist children and adults to participate in everyday activities at home, school, work, and in social situations. Areas treated include:
- delayed speech and language development
- stuttering
- literacy problems
- learning difficulties
- speech and language problems following stroke
- communication problems after brain injury or associated with Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
Student involvement
Students undertake clinical placements from the first semester of the two-year Master of Speech and Language Pathology program.
"In the first semester of first year, students do an observation placement," says Clinic Manager Lyndal Sheepway. "They start doing some hands-on clinical work in the second semester which increases in the second year of the program."
During semester time, students have weekly placements in the clinic where they work alongside up to five fellow students one day a week. During semester break students work in the clinic every day for four weeks.
"Students are responsible for planning and running sessions with differing amounts of hands-on work depending on the student's experience and the client's needs," explains Sheepway. "They do all the planning and reading, then run the session with the client and write up the case files, all under supervision."
Feedback is provided to students after each session. They are encouraged to think about their own performance, what the client got out of the session and what they could improve for next time.
"Students have standards they need to meet at the end of each placement depending on how far they are through the course and how much supervision they require," says Sheepway.
Benefits for students
Having a state-of-the art clinic associated with the University has a number of major benefits for students in the Master of Speech and Language Pathology program:
- learning experiences are standardised
- they have the freedom to form a good relationship with clients and think on the spot thanks to supervision being conducted via observation rooms
- assessment and feedback is provided on a regular basis
- supervision is carried out by speech pathologists who are specialist educators
- fortnightly case conferences are conducted with students, academic and clinical staff to share ideas about clients and techniques.
Clinic details
The Macquarie University Speech Clinic is located at 299 Lane Cove Road, North Ryde. The clinic is open from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Late sessions are periodically conducted on weeknights depending on need. A referral is not required to attend the clinic.
For further information on the Macquarie University Speech Clinic email Lyndal Sheepway lyndal.sheepway@mq.edu.au or visit www.ling.mq.edu.au/centres/speechpath/clinics.htm To find out more about the Master of Speech and Language Pathology contact Beth Armstrong beth.armstrong@mq.edu.au