COMD 4372 Introduction to Voice and Fluency Disorders
This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students of communication sciences and disorders to the disorders of voice and fluency. The first part of the course will provide a review of the anatomy of phonatory system and the mechanics of voice production. It will discuss the various parameters of frequency and intensity and the norms across the lifespan. It surveys diagnostic procedures and voice therapy techniques. The second part of the course focuses on fluency disorders, with a major focus on stuttering. It starts with an analytic review of the contemporary research on the etiology (esp. genetic and neurological) of stuttering disorder. The primary focus of this part will be on the diagnostic procedures and treatment methods. In addition, this part will provide an overview of cluttering disorder. Both parts of the course will address the various ethical, legal, psychosocial, and cultural aspects associated with voice and fluency disorders.