Topic: Voice disorders
Paper details:
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Assessment Guidelines for Students
Module Name/Code: SL2005 – Speech, Communication and Swallowing Disabilities
Assessment Title: Voice Coursework
Type of Assessment: Individual coursework (case studies)
Word Count: 1500 words
Lecturer/Marker: Emma Fitzpatrick
Submission Deadline: 2pm on Friday 27 November 2015
This coursework is to be submitted via Moodle
Assessment Specification
You are working as a speech and language therapist (SLT) in an NHS outpatients clinic. You have
received the following referrals from an ENT Surgeon:
REFERRAL 1
Dear Speech and Language Therapist,
Re: Mrs Irene Jones (02.03.1952)
I saw this lady in clinic today. She reported that she has had a problem with her voice for at least
three years. This started gradually but she says that her voice has been getting progressively worse.
She has had multiple ENT consultations and a number of episodes of voice therapy.
I carried out flexible nasendoscopy, which revealed no structural abnormalities of the larynx and full
abduction and adduction of the vocal folds was observed during breathing and coughing. There was
some spasm of the vocal folds and squeezing of the false vocal folds observed during phonation.
I believe that this lady has adductor laryngeal dystonia. Please would you see her for voice therapy.
Yours sincerely,
Mr I Smith
Consultant ENT Surgeon
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REFERRAL 2
Dear Speech and Language Therapist,
Re: Miss Jennifer Smart (02.03.1993)
I saw this lady in clinic today. She complains of a husky voice, which began gradually and has been
present for the past four months. She started working as a primary school teacher six months ago.
I carried out flexible nasendoscopy today, which revealed small, soft vocal nodules.
Please would you see this lady for voice therapy at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Mr I Smith
Consultant ENT Surgeon
In this piece of work, you need to compare and contrast the nature of the two voice disorders
described in these referrals and outline appropriate clinical management for each client. You are
expected to:
• Compare and contrast the anatomical and physiological changes underpinning each voice
disorder (approximately 300 words).
• Describe how you will carry out further information gathering and assessment for each client
and outline the expected case histories and vocal profiles for each client, describing how they
might differ from each other, based on your knowledge of each voice disorder and referring to
relevant literature (approximately 450 words).
• Provide treatment recommendations for each client, with rationale. You should consider a
range of treatment options, including speech and language therapy and medical/surgical
management. Compare and contrast approaches that may be used with each client and
outline your clinical decision-making, demonstrating how you are using theory to inform your
practice (approximately 450 words).
• Indicate the likely prognosis for each client, making reference to the underlying aetiologies of
their voice disorders and relevant literature (approximately 150 words).
• Describe how you will involve each client in decisions about their treatment and liaise with
other relevant professionals (approximately 150 words).
Pass Mark
The pass mark for this coursework is 40%.
Assessment Criteria
Please find the assessment criteria below. They are descriptions, based on the module’s
learning outcomes, of the skills, knowledge or attributes you need to demonstrate in order to
complete this assessment successfully. Your work will be marked with respect to these criteria
and your feedback will be based on them. Your work will also be marked with respect to the
grade related criteria for undergraduate programmes, which can be found below.
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Content (80%)
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the critical features of each voice disorder described,
including the anatomical and physiological underpinnings of each disorder.
• Analyse the information provided and formulate accurate expected case histories, vocal
profiles and prognoses for each client.
• Identify and select assessment tools as appropriate for each client’s expected voice history
and vocal profile.
• Identify and select intervention and management strategies as appropriate for each client’s
diagnosis, voice history and vocal profile.
• Demonstrate awareness of consent issues and the importance of negotiation in clinical
practice.
• Use referenced theory to support your clinical decision-making.
Style (20%)
• Adopt a clear ‘compare and contrast’ approach to describing the critical features and clinical
management of each voice disorder.
• Use a standard academic referencing system.
• Access a variety of resources.
• Present your work in a professional and organised manner.
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Grade Related Criteria for Undergraduate Programmes
Class –
Degree
% Literary Description
1 Distinction 85-
100
Outstanding Work that demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of the
subject area and addresses the learning
outcomes/assessment criteria in full. Where relevant, it will
show evidence of independent reading, thinking and analysis.
It will be well-constructed and demonstrate a professional
approach to academic practice. It will be of a professional
standard.
75-
84
Excellent Work that demonstrates strong knowledge of the subject area
and addresses the learning outcomes/assessment criteria
well. Where relevant, it will show evidence of wide and
comprehensive reading. It will be clearly written and adhere 70 to the principles of good academic practice. -
74
Very good
2:1 Merit 67-
69
Good Work that demonstrates a sound level of knowledge of the
subject area and makes a good attempt to address the
learning outcomes/assessment criteria, realising all to some
extent and most well. Where relevant, there will be evidence
of thorough research of the topic(s). It will be well-structured
and logically written and will demonstrate good academic
practice.
64-
66
60-
63
2:2 Pass 57-
59
Fair Work that demonstrates knowledge of the subject area and
attempts to address the learning outcomes/assessment
criteria, realising all to some extent and some well but
perhaps also including irrelevant or underdeveloped material.
Where relevant, answers will provide some evidence of
analysis but may be largely descriptive. It will have structure
but this may not always be clear. Attempts to demonstrate
academic practice will be evident.
54-
56
50-
53
3 Pass 47-
49
Satisfactory Work that demonstrates basic knowledge of the subject area
and provides some level of response to the learning
outcomes/assessment criteria but only realises these
outcomes and criteria to some extent and may not include
important elements or information that is completely accurate.
Where relevant, development of ideas is limited. Expression
and structure will lack clarity and evidence of academic
practice will be limited.
44-
46
40-
43
Fail 37-
39
Poor Unsatisfactory work that demonstrates very limited knowledge
of the subject area and does not succeed in grasping the key
issues. Learning outcomes/assessment criteria will not be
realised. There will be no real development of ideas and few
sources will be used or used correctly. Presentation is
confused or lacks coherence.
34-
36
30-
33
Very poor Work that demonstrates no real knowledge of the subject area
and which demonstrates a totally inadequate attempt to
address the learning outcomes/assessment criteria. No
15- critical ability will be displayed.
30
0-15
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