Introduction to Communication Science and Disorders

Fundamentals of Communication Science and Disorders

• Instructor: Kim McCullough, Ph.D., CCC-SLP.

• Institution: Appalachian State University.

• Learning Objectives:

  • Define communication.

  • Establish the relationship between communication and the subfields of language, speech, and hearing.

  • Define communication disorders.

  • Identify career paths available within the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

Defining Communication

• Basic Definition: Communication is the process by which two or more people share information.

• Content of Information: Information includes facts, thoughts, and feelings.

• Purposes of Communication:

  • To request.

  • To reject.

  • To comment.

• Communication Players:

  • Sender: The individual who initiates the message.

  • Receiver: The individual(s) who get the message.

The Four Processes of Communication

• Formulation: The initial stage where one organizes their thoughts or ideas for sharing.

• Transmission: The process of conveying those ideas to another person. Modes include:

  • Speaking.

  • Signing.

  • Gesturing.

  • Writing.

• Reception: The physical or sensory process of receiving information from another person.

• Comprehension: The cognitive process of understanding and organizing the message received.

Models of Communication

• Essential Components: Three components are necessary for communication to occur:

  1. A Sender.

  2. A Shared Symbolic System (code).

  3. A Receiver.

• Successful Communication Component (Feedback):

  • Feedback: Information provided by the receiver to the sender.

  • Functions of Feedback:

    • Active: Ensures both sender and receiver are engaged.

    • Dynamic: Allows the flow of communication to be constantly modulated or adjusted.

Types of Feedback

• Linguistic Feedback: Includes speaking and vocalizing (e.g., saying "I understand" or "uh-huh").

• Nonlinguistic/Extralinguistic Feedback:

  • Eye contact.

  • Facial expressions.

  • Posture.

  • Proximity (physical distance).

• Paralinguistic Feedback: Involves the use of pitch, loudness, and pausing to convey meaning beyond the literal words.

Language: Definition and Features

• Definition: Language is a socially shared code that uses a conventional system of arbitrary symbols to represent ideas about the world that are meaningful to the self and others.

• Remarkable Features of Language:

  • Universal: Found in every human culture.

  • Species Specific: Unique to the human species.

  • Productive: An infinite number of sentences and ideas can be created.

  • Rapid Acquisition: Learned quickly by young children without formal instruction.

Domains of Language

• Expressive Language: Language that is produced. This includes spoken, signed, or written output.

• Receptive Language: Language that is understood. This includes listening and comprehending.

The Three Pillars of Language

1. Form: How words, sentences, and sounds are organized and arranged to convey content.

   • Phonology: The study of speech sounds and sound patterns.

     • Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound.

   • Morphology: Rules governing the internal organization of words.

     • Morpheme: The smallest meaningful unit of language (e.g., the prefix "un-" or the suffix "-s").

   • Syntax: Rules governing the internal organization of sentences (word order).

2. Content: The meaning of language.

   • Semantics: The study of the meaning of individual words and combinations of words.

3. Use: How language is shared with others.

   • Pragmatics: Rules governing how language is used in social situations and different contexts.

Illustrative Example: Mother-Child Interaction

• Dakota: "Daddy’s cup."

• Mother: "Yes, that is Daddy’s cup."

• Dakota: "Mommy’s cup."

• Mother: "You’re right. This is my cup."

• Dakota: "That Mommy."

• Mother: "Yep, this one’s mine. Where’s your cup?"

• Dakota: "My cup."

Speech: Definition and Building Blocks

• Definition: Speech is a neuromuscular process that allows individuals to express language vocally. It involves the precise activation of muscles within the respiration, phonation, and articulation systems.

• Building Blocks of Speech:

  • Respiration (Breathstream): Speech typically begins during exhalation.

  • Voice: Quality is essential for perception. It includes aspects of Loudness (Intensity) and Pitch (Frequency).

  • Articulation: The way sounds are produced; specifically, the movement of the speech mechanism (tongue, lips, jaw) to produce sounds.

  • Fluency: The smooth, easy, and effortless flow of speech. Key factors include continuity and speech rate.

Hearing: Perception of Sound

• Definition: Hearing is the perception of sound. It involves:

  • Awareness of sound.

  • Ability to distinguish among different sounds.

  • Ability to process sound rapidly.

• Components of Hearing:

  • Acuity: The physical ability to hear sounds (volume).

  • Central Auditory Processing: The brain's ability to interpret and process the sounds heard.

Communication Disorders

• Normal Communication: Characterized by great variability and highly influenced by culture.

• Disordered Communication: Characterized by significant difficulty in one or more of the following areas:

  • Formulation.

  • Transmission.

  • Reception.

  • Comprehension.

• Requirement for Diagnosis: The difficulty must adversely impact school, work, home, social, and/or community settings.

Classification of Communication Disorders

• Disorders of Language: Impact one or more of the 5 domains (Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics).

  • Can involve speaking, reading, writing, or signing.

  • Categories: Child language disorders and Adult language disorders.

• Disorders of Speech: Breakdown in the systems involved in speech production.

  • Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology.

  • Fluency Disorders: Stuttering and Cluttering.

  • Voice Disorders.

  • Motor Speech Disorders.

• Hearing Loss: Breakdown in the reception or transmission of sound along the auditory pathway.

  • Types: Sensorineural, Conductive, or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

• Feeding and Swallowing Disorders: Classified as pediatric or adult.

Impact of Communication Disorders

• Can lead to social and emotional isolation.

• Can create serious personal, social, educational, and occupational difficulties.

Professional Organizations and Careers

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

• The professional organization for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

• Website: www.asha.org

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

• Role: Study and understanding of human communication and swallowing, including assessment and treatment of disorders.

• Requirements:

  • Master’s degree from an accredited program.

  • Passing the National Certification Exam.

  • Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) under a certified SLP.

  • Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).

• Statistics:

  • Total professionals: $181,628$ SLPs.

  • Employment settings: Schools ($51\%$), Healthcare facilities ($39.9\%$), Colleges/Universities, and Private practice.

Audiology

• Role: Study of normal and disordered hearing and the rehabilitation of individuals with hearing impairments.

• Requirements:

  • Doctoral degree (Au.D., Ph.D., Sci.D.) is the entry-level degree.

  • Passing the National Certification Exam.

  • Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) under a certified audiologist.

• Statistics:

  • Total professionals: $13,610$ audiologists.

  • Employment settings: Healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, private practice) ($75\%$), School systems ($7.6\%$), Colleges/Universities ($6.7\%$), and Industry.

Involvement at Appalachian State University

• Department Website: https://rhs.appstate.edu/

• Clubs/Organizations: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.

• Specific Groups:

  • Dementia Awareness Club at App State.

  • MC2: https://appstate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/mc2

  • Instagram: @appstate_mc2