1

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages
Second Term, 2016-17

Course Title: LING3208 Language Disorders

Description: This survey course introduces non-clinical students to fundamental concepts of language
disorders in pediatric and adult populations. Characteristics of primary language impairment, aphasia,
dysarthria, and hearing impairments, as well as articulation, fluency, and voice and other related disorders
affecting language are among the topics to be discussed. Diagnostic techniques and treatment strategies are
also introduced.

Content, highlighting fundamental concepts

Topic Contents/fundamental concepts
Foundations of language and communication Systems of communication, classification of
disorders

Biological foundations of language Anatomy & physiology of the vocal mechanism and
the brain

Psychometrics, normalcy & variation in language Stages of speech, language, and literacy development
development and functions
Articulation & phonological disorders in children,
Speech disorders fluency disorders, voice disorders, and dysarthria

Primary language impairment, literacy problem, and

Language disorders in children genetic syndromes

Aphasia and cognitive-based communication

Neurogenic disorders in adults disorders

Hearing impairment and language Deafness, cochlear implant, and aging

Disorders in multi-lingual speakers Characteristics, assessment, and treatment

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course, students will be able to

 Describe the fundamentals of language and communication, and basic characteristics of language
disorders
 Explain the etiology of different language disorders
 Analyze patient signs and symptoms and attribute them to specific language disorder types

Learning activities

 lectures
 use of multimedia materials e.g. video clips
 interactive tutorials
 discussion of language disorder phenomena
 case studies

1
 2
Expected time allocation of each of below learning activities during the course (per week):

Lecture Interactive Lab Discussion of Reading Projects Web-based Other

tutorial case teaching
(hr) (hr) (hr) (hr) (hr) (hr) (hr) (hr)
in /out class in /out class in /out class in /out class in /out class in /out class in /out class in /out class
2 1 1 2
M M M M
M: Mandatory activity in the course O: Optional activity NA: Not applicable

Assessment scheme
Task nature Description Weight
Exams (All cumulative) Three exams will assess knowledge learned in 65%
lectures and tutorials. All exams are cumulative.
Mid-Term 1 & 2: 20% & 15%
Final: 30%
Case Studies Audio, Audio-video, and written cases will help 20%
enable students to apply textbook knowledge in
analyzing clinical cases.
In-class Assignments Short assignments and unannounced quizzes will 15%
be administered to promote interactive learning in
lectures and tutorials.

Learning resources for students

Required textbook:
Fogle, P.T. (2013). Essentials of Communication Sciences & Disorders, 1st Edition. Cengage Learning.

Feedback for evaluation

Students are welcome to give comments and feedback by sending them in written form to the TA’s email
address or talking to the instructor and TA individually.

Course schedule
Week Date Lecture Topic/Readings Tutorial Topic
Week 1 Jan 11 Foundation of Language & Components of Language
Communication; Classification
of Disorders

Chapter 1
Week 2 Jan 18 Psychometrics, Normalcy & Components of Language
Variation in Language
Development and Functions

Chapter 4
Week 3 Jan 25 Speech Disorders in Children: Components of Language
Anatomy & Physiology

Chapter 3, Chapter 5
Week 4 Feb 1 Chinese New Year
Week 5 Feb 8 Speech Disorders in Children: Review
Artic & Phonological Disorders

Chapter 5
Week 6 Feb 15 Mid-Term 1 *Pediatric Cases

Week 7 Feb 22 Language Disorders in Children: *Pediatric Cases

Primary Language Disorders
2
 3

Chapter 4, Chapter 6, Chapter

13
Week 8 Mar 1 Language Disorders in Children: *Pediatric Cases
Literacy Problem & Syndromes

Chapters 6-7
Week 9 Mar 8 Etiologies of Brain Disorders *Pediatric Cases

Chapter 3, Chapter 11
Week 10 Mar 15 Neurological Disorders in Review
Adults: Aphasia

Chapter 11
Week 11 Mar 22 Mid-Term 2 *Neurological Cases

Week 12 Mar 29 Neurological Disorders in *Neurological Cases

Adults: Cognitive & Motor
Speech Disorders

Chapters 11-12
Week 13 Apr 5 Hearing Impairments and *Hearing Impairment Cases
Language

Chapter 14
Week 14 Apr 12 Assessment and Treatment of Review
Language Disorders in
Multilingual Speakers

Readings TBA
Week 15 Apr 19 Final Exam

*Please try to bring your laptop computer, if you have one.

Additional lectures
Date and time Lecture Speaker and Topic Venue
Tue Jan 17 Prof. Leher SINGH, National Singapore University SWH 1
4:30pm - 6:15pm The development of lexical tone acquisition: Evidence from
discrimination and word learning in infancy
Tue Feb 21 Prof. Dennis BURNHAM, Western Sydney University SWH 1
4:30pm - 6:15pm Topic TBA
Fri April 21 Prof. Janet WERKER, University of British Columbia LSK LT1
9am - 10:30am Perceptual Foundations of Language Acquisition in
Monolingual- and Bilingual-learning Infants

Teacher and TA’s contact details

Instructor
Name: Patrick C. M. Wong
Office Location: G03 KKL and 4/F HYS
Office Hours: Tue 11am-12:30pm or by appt
Telephone: 3943-7009
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://brain.cuhk.edu.hk/

3
 4
Teaching Venue: Humanities Building 12
Class/Tutorial Time: Wed 2:30 to 5:15pm

Teaching Assistant
Name: Akshay Raj Maggu
Office Location: G36, Leung Kau Kui Building
Office Hours: By appt
Telephone: 3943-3779
Email: [email protected]

 A facility for posting course announcements

All announcements of the course will be posted on elearn. (http://elearn.cuhk.edu.hk)

 Academic honesty and plagiarism

“Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary
guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/ With each assignment, students will be required to submit a
statement that they are aware of these policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures.”

For each written assignment, students are required to submit a signed declaration that they are aware of these
policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures. For group projects, all students of the same group should be
asked to sign on the declaration.

For assignments/papers in the form of a computer-generated document that is principally text-based and
submitted via VeriGuide, the statement, in the form of a receipt, will be issued by the system upon students’
uploading of the soft copy of the assignment. Assignments without the receipt will not be graded by teachers.
Only the final version of the assignment should be submitted via VeriGuide.