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University of Arkansas
College of Education and Health Professions
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Program Affiliation: Communication Disorders
Course Number and Title: CDIS 4253: NEUROLOGICAL BASES OF COMMUNICATION
Catalog Description: A study of the structures and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems as they relate to human speech, language, and cognition.
Prerequisites: Consent. Completion of a course in anatomy & physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms is highly recommended.
Professor: M. A. Toner, Ph.D.
Relationship to Knowledge Base:
ADVANCED PREPARATION.
This course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of the basic structure and function of the nervous system as it relates to the production and understanding of speech and language. Effect of neurological damage and mechanisms for recovery will also be discussed.
Goals:
Students in this course are expected to describe the basic structure and function of the components of the nervous system and relate that information to speech, language and cognition. They are also expected to explain the effects of factors that result in neurologically-based communication disorders and factors that affect recovery following neurological damage.
Competencies:
By the end of the semester, the student will be able to;
A) Define terms basic to neuroanatomy and physiology (SP 1)
B) Describe the function of basic neurological structures (SP 1)
C) Describe neuronal transmission (SP 1)
D) Describe fiber regeneration and factors favorable to adequate regeneration (SP1)
E) List the meninges and discuss their importance to the nervous system (SP 1)
F) Identify important structures and landmarks in the nervous system and describe their function (SP 1)
G) List and describe the function of communicating fibers of the nervous system (SP1)
H) Describe cerebral spinal fluid function, circulation and drainage and explain its importance to neurological functioning (SP1)
I) Describe blood supply to the nervous system and explain potential effects of damage to specific vessels. (SP 1)
J) Differentiate between sites of lesion based on symptomology (SP 1)
K) Describe the location, and function of the cranial and spinal nerves (SP1)
L) Describe the structures involved in the sensory and motor organization for speech, language, and cognition. (SP 1)
Content:
I. Review of basic terminology, structures – Chapter 1
II. Basic Elements of the Nervous System – Chapter 5
A. Neurons
B. Glial Cells
III. Damage and regeneration of neurons/nerve fibers
A. Required conditions for regeneration
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B. Regeneration Processes
C. Conditions that improve chances of regeneration
D. Recovery of Structure vs. Recovery of Function
IV. Anatomy of the Central Nervous System
A. Structures/Areas-Chapters 2, 3, and part of 11
1. Cortical Structures
2. Subcortical Structures
3. Cerebellum
4. Brainstem
5. Spinal Cord
B. Communication Fibers – projection, association, commissural
C. Vascular Supply – Blood and CSF – Chapters 17 and 18
V. Peripheral Nervous System – Chapter 15
1. Cranial Nerves
2. Spinal Nerves
VI. Neurosensory organization – Chapter 7
A. Dermatomes
B. General Sensory Pathway
C. Pain, Temperature and Touch
D. Proprioception, Stereognosis, Tactile discrimination
E. Auditory Pathway
VII. Voluntary Motor System
1.. Lower Motor Neuron – Chapters 11 and 15
2. Extrapyramidal System – Chapter 13
3. Cerebellar Level – Chapter 12
4. Upper Motor Neuron - Pyramidal Tract – Chapter 14
5. Conceptual-Planning Level – Chapter 19
VIII. Autonomic System and function of Subcortical Structures – Chapters 6 and 16
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Cognition and Communication Processes – Chapter 19
Procedures used to study/assess the nervous system – Chapter 20
Embryology – Chapter 4
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Evaluation:
There will be a total of 700 points possible in this class. Five (5) exams will be given, four (4) during the regular semester and a final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive and worth 200 points (29% of grade). All other exams will be worth 100 points (total of 400 points – 57%% of the grade). Ten quizzes over assigned readings will also be administered, each quiz will be worth 10 points (total of 100 points –
14% of grade).
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Syllabus Change
The Instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are made, advance notification will be given to the class.
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Grading Scale:
Based on the total number of points earned, grades will be assigned as follows:
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Point Total Percentage of Possible Points Letter Grade
630-700
560-629
490-559
420-489
0-419
90 - 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
0 - 59
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B
C
D
F
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Academic Honesty:
The application of the University of Arkansas Academic Honesty Policy, as stated in the Student
Handbook, will be fully adhered to in this course. Grades and degrees earned by dishonest means devalue those earned by al students; therefore, it is important that students are aware of the University of Arkansas
Academic Honesty Policy. Academic dishonesty involves acts which may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process.
X. Accommodations
Students with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations must first register with the Center for
Students with Disabilities. The CSD is located in the Arkansas Union, room 104 and on the web at: http://www.uark.edu/ua/csd/applications.htm. The CSD provides documentation to students with disabilities who must then provide this documentation to their course instructors. Students with disabilities should notify their course instructors of their need for reasonable accommodations in a timely manner to
XI. ensure sufficient time to arrange reasonable accommodation implementation and effectiveness. A typical time frame for arranging reasonable accommodations for students who are registered with the CSD is approximately one to two weeks.
Classroom Behavior
Appropriate classroom behavior is expected of the instructor and all students. Inappropriate and disruptive classroom behavior (inappropriate language and gestures, class disruptions, disrespect to other students or instructor, and other behavior as determined by the instructor) will not be tolerated and will result in possible removal from the class and /or disciplinary action as per the student handbook.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In case of inclement weather, call the clinic to learn the status of the class (575-4509). If you feel it would be dangerous for you to travel to class due to the weather conditions, call the instructor prior to class time.
If you cannot reach the instructor, leave a message with the clinic secretary or on the clinic voice mail.
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Course Resources:
Videotapes of brain dissection and a brain model are available in the Speech and Hearing Clinic.
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Research Base:
Text
Bhatnagar, S.C. (2002). Neuroscience for the Study of Communicative Disorders, 2 nd Ed., Philadelphia,
PA; Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.
Non-Text References
Coehn, H., (1999). Neuroscience for Rehabilitation, 2nd Ed., Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Kuehn, D.P, Lemme, M.L., & Baumgartner, J.M. (1989). Neural Bases of Speech, Hearing, and Language.
Boston: College Hill Press.
Love, R.J. & Webb, W. (1996). Neurology for the Speech Language Pathologist, 3rd ed
Butterworth-Heinmann.
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Boston:
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Noback, C.R. & Demarest, R.J. (1981). The Human Nervous System: Basic Principles of
Neurobiology (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
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