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Pathology of Hearing, Speech, Voice and Swallowing

Code: 104143
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Speech therapy OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Francisco Javier Leon Vintro
Email :
franciscojavier.leon@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Francisco Javier Leon Vintro
César José Orus Dotu

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Albert PUJOL
Cristina VALERO
Joan Ramon GRAS

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

 

There are no prerequisites. It is convenient for the student to have general knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the organs that make up the auditory system, the phonatory and nervous system. This will facilitate comprehension of hypoacusia and the voice disorders that a may appear in many pathological situations.

 

 

Objectives

Disorders  that affect the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx and ear, are usually accompanied by communication disorders.  Doctors and in particular ENTs are often the first to be consulted when language is slow to appear, when it is difficult to understand or when there is any other alteration in the voice.

Once the ENT specialist  and / or Phoniatrist has established the diagnosis and, if applicable, medical-surgical techniques have been applied to solve the specific problem, it is usually necessary for the  Speech Therapist to intervene. Speech therapists apply evaluation techniques  and interventions that allow as much recovery as possible of the altered functions of hearing, voice, language and speech in order  to achieve their normal  capacity for communication and facilitation of  their social integration.

With the content of the course it is intended that the students acquire precise knowledge of the clinical anatomy and physiopathology, as well the clinical and diagnostic methods of the hearing apparatus, and phonation and swallowing systems. This will help them to be able to intervene in their disorders, developing speech therapy functions according to the patients’ individual needs, as well as to be to be able to advise the family if necessary.

Learning outcomes

  • KM21 (Explain the basic aspects of the examination of the phonatory apparatus (larynx, pharynx, mouth, nostrils) and of the auditory apparatus.) Explain the basic aspects of the examination of the phonatory apparatus (larynx, pharynx, mouth, nostrils) and of the auditory apparatus.
  • KM22 (Describe the main disorders of speech, voice, hearing and swallowing, as well as their impact on communication processes.) Describe the main disorders of speech, voice, hearing and swallowing, as well as their impact on communication processes.
  • KM23 (Recognise in which situations a referral is required to a specialist in ENT, audiology, speech therapy or other related specialties.) Recognise in which situations a referral is required to a specialist in ENT, audiology, speech therapy or other related specialties.

Contents

AUDITION


1. Pathophysiology of hearing.


2. Assessment of hearing loss.


3. Childhood hearing loss.


4. Transmission deafness.


5. Deafness of perception. Presbycusis.


6. Hearing aids and other devices for deafness.


7. Cochlear implants and their rehabilitation.


 


SPEAK AND VOICE


8. Pathophysiology and exploration of the nose. Pathology of the nose.


9. Pathophysiology and exploration of the pharynx. Pharynx pathology.


10. Pathophysiology and exploration of the oral cavity. Pathology of the oral cavity.


11. Pathophysiology of the larynx. Laryngeal examination. Voice exploration.


12. Embryonic and evolutionary development of the phonation organs and resonance cavities. Phonation mechanisms.


13. Pathophysiology and exploration of the articulation of speech.


14. Oral, pharyngeal, nasal and pulmonary voice disorders. Resonance disorders.


15. Articulation disorders 


16. Dysphonia: etiopathogenesis and classification.


17. Dysphonia due to congenital lesions of the vocal cords. Children's dysphonia. Puberfonia.


18. Dysphonia due to acquired injuries of the vocal cords. Organic and functional dysphonia.


19. Peripheral and central laryngeal paralysis


20. Dysphonia due to neurological and neuromuscular diseases


21. Aging: voice, speech and breathing. Presbiphony


22. Role of surgery in different dysphonia


23. Head and neck cancer: the sequelae of treatments


24. Total laryngectomy and its rehabilitation


25. Gender change. Voice sung. Occupational pathology.


 


SWALLOWING


26. Pathophysiology of swallowing


27. Exploration of swallowing


28. Functional dysphagia


29. Structural oropharyngeal dysphagia


30. Role of surgery in the treatment of dysphagia

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Clinical case seminars 54 2.16
Bibliographical search 31 1.24
Studying 90 3.6
Theoretical sessions 45 1.8

Theoretical sessions

Exposition of theoretical themes with iconographic material, stimulating the discussion of the subject.

 

Clinical case seminars

The students will be divided into 3 groups and will carry out these seminars where the teacher will present practical clinical cases to the students, who will have to have an active participation.The active participation of students will be encouraged at all times through questions, debate and suggestions.

 

The use of artificial intelligence is allowed.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
EV1. Multiple choice test I 35% 1 0.04 KM21, KM22, KM23
EV3. Evaluation of clinical cases 30% 3 0.12 KM21, KM22, KM23
EV2. Multiple choice test II 35% 1 0.04 KM21, KM22, KM23

Theoretical content (EV1 and EV2):

Two multiple-choice tests individual and face to face, questions with 5 options, with only one correct. The exams will include at least two questions by topic, although this number can be increased depending on the theoretical content and the relevance of these at the time of consolidating the theoretical bases of the subject. Not-answered questions do not penalize. There’s also a penalty for guessing, four wrong answers erase one good answer.

The EV1 would take place in the second assessment period, first semester (web page).

The EV2 would take place in the second assessment period, second semester (web page).

The EV3 would take place in the second assessment period, second semester (web page).



THE MINIMUM GRADE TO PASS THE COURSE IS 5 ON EACH TEST: AVERAGE WILL NOT BE DONE WITH A GRADE OF LESS THAN 5.0 ON EACH OF THE TESTS.

Each exam EV1 and EV2 represents 35% of the final grade of the course


THE DELIVERY OF THE TRANSLATION OF THE EVALUATION TESTS PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE IF THEY ARE COMPLETED REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 263 AND IS PERFORMED YOUR REQUEST TELEMATICALLY (EFORM) (more information on the Faculty's website).

Evaluation of clinical cases(EV3):

The attendance andinvolvement of the student will be evaluated (30% mark) and a written, individual and face to face evaluation will be made on four clinical cases where the student must give an orientation on the same (70% remaining of thenote).

The grade for the evaluation of clinical cases represents 30% of the final grade. THE MINIMUM GRADE TO PASS THE COURSE IS A 5.0 OF THIS CLINICAL CASE EVALUATION (5.0 out of 10).

THE DELIVERY OF THE TRANSLATION OF THE EVALUATION TESTS PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE IF THEY ARE COMPLETED REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 263 AND IS PERFORMED YOUR REQUEST IN WEEK 4 TELEMATICALLY (EFORM) (more information on the Faculty's website).

Final grade:

The final grade will be the result of the following formula: Theoretical content is equivalent to 70% + Clinical case represents 30%.

Assessable student: when the student delivers evidence of learning with a weight of at least 40%.

Definition of passing the course: In accordance with the Faculty’s evaluation guidelines, a course is considered passed in the continuous assessment—on a scale of 0–10—only if must include obtaining a minimum grade of 5.0 points and a score of 4.0 points or higher on each of the in-person assessments that account for 20% or more of the continuous assessment grade. If these requirements—and any others established by the course—are not met, the maximum grade recorded on the academic transcript will be 4.5 points.


Any irregularity during an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in that assessment being graded as a 0. If the course syllabus stipulates that passing the course requires obtaining a minimum grade on this assessment or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.


Feedbackon Learning Evidence

Once the grades for the assessments (EVs) have been published, feedback will be given in class highlighting the most common errors and suggesting improvements for students in future assessments.

For EV3, feedback will also be provided in class or a rubric will be published on the Virtual Campus to help students understand their progress in the learning process.

Resit:

Students who have done evidences with a weight of at least 2/3of the total, and having a final grade of equal or greater than 3.5 and lower than 5.0. They will be resited only the parts evaluated as insufficient during the course.

The resit woult include a multiple response test and a clinical case evaluation.

This would take place during the resit examination period.

The grade recorded after the resit will be the weighted average of the three assessments (a minimum of 5 is required in each of them).

If the student does not attend the resit or fails to pass it, the maximum grade that will appear in the academic record will be 4.5.

No unique final synthesis test for students who enrole for the second time or more is anticipated.


The general UAB guidelines for assessment can be found here: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html



UNIQUE EVALUATION:

THE SINGLE EVALUATION IS REQUESTED TELEMATICALLY (E-FORM) DURING THE SPECIFIC PERIOD (more information on the Faculty's website)

This assessment will have two elements:

1. EV1-2. Multiple-choice objective test of the entire subject: 50% of the final grade.

2. EV3. Evaluation of clinical cases: 50% of the final mark.


The EV1-2 assessment will last 1 hour.

The EV3 assessment will last 3 hours.


Both EVs will be held on the same day, which will be attempted to be the same as the EV of the continuing assessment of the second assessment period.


The same recovery system as for continuous assessment will be applied

The review of the final qualification follows the same procedure as for the continuous assessment

Bibliography

Basic references:

Bermúdez R. Exploración clínica de los trastornos de la voz, el habla y la audición. Ed. Aljibe. Málaga. 2003.

Bleeckk. Disfagia: Evaluación y reeducación de los trastornos de la deglución. Ed. McGraw-Hill 2004.

Ramírez C. Manual de Otorrinolaringología, Ed. McGrawHill. Madrid 2008.

Ramos A. Cenjor C .Manrique M. Morera C. Implantes de oído medio e implantes cocleares. Ed. Ars Médica 2007

Further readings:
Angulo A, Blanco JL, Mateos F. Audioprótesis: Teoría y práctica. Ed. Massón. Barcelona 1997.
Bermúdez R. Exploración clínica de los trastornos de la voz, el habla y la audición. Ed. Aljibe. Málaga.
2003.
Bleeckk. Disfagia: Evaluación y reeducación de los trastornos de la deglución. Ed. McGraw-Hill 2004.
Bleeckk. Disfagia: Evaluación y reeducación de los trastornos de la deglución. Ed. McGraw-Hill 2004.
Casado J. C. La evaluación clínica de la voz. Fundamentos médicos y logopédicos. Ed. Aljibe. Málaga
2002.
Casado J. C. Pérez A. Trastornos de la voz: Del diagnóstico al tratamiento. Ed. Aljibe.Málaga 2009.
Cobeta I., Nuñez F., Fernández S. Patología de la voz.. Ponencia Oficial de la Sociedad Española de
ORL y Patología Cervico-Facial 2014. Ed. Marge Medica Books
Courtat P., Peytral C, Elbaz P. Exploraciones funcionales en ORL. Ed. Massón. Barcelona 1994.
FIAPAS. Manual Básico de Formación Especializada sobre Discapacidad Audtiva. 2004.
Jaume G, Tomas M. Manejo de la disfagia y aspiración. Ed. Ergon 2007
Le Huche F, Allali A. La voz Tomo (1,2,3, 4). Ed. Massón. Barcelona 2004
Manrique M, Huarte A. Implantes cocleares. Ed. Massón 2002.
Médica 2007.
Menaldi J. La Voz Patológica. Ed. Panamericana 2002
Navarro S. Navarro F., Romero P. Voz: Trastornos y rehabilitación. Ed. CEP 2007
Patología de la voz. I Cobeta, F. Nuñez, S Fernández. Ponencía Oficial de la SEORL PCF Ed. Marge
Méica Books 2014
Peña J. Manual de logopedia. Ed. Massón. Barcelona 2001.
PerellóJ. Evaluación de la voz, lenguaje y audición. Ed. Lebón. Barcelona 1996
Perelló J. Sordera Profunda Bilateral Prelocutiva. Ed. Massón 4º edición. Barcelona 1992.
Perelló J. Trastornos del habla. Ed. Massón 5º edición. Barcelona 1995.
Puyuelo M. Casos Clínicos en logopedia. Ed. Massón 1997
Ramírez C. Manual de Otorrinolaringología, Ed. McGrawHill. Madrid 2008.
Ramos A. Cenjor C .Manrique M. Morera C. Implantes de oído medio e implantes cocleares. Ed. Ars
Médica 2007
Rivera T. Audiología. Técnicas de exploración. Hipoacusias neurosensoriales. Ed. Ars Médica 2003.
Rodríguez-Smith-Agreda. Anatomía de los órganos del lenguaje, visión y audición. Ed. Panamericana
2003.
Salesa E., Perelló E., Bonavida A. Tratado de audiología. Ed. Masson. Barcelona 2013
Suárez A. Martínez J.D., Moreno J.M, García ME. Trastornos de la voz. Estudio de casos. Ed. EOS
2003.
Tomas M, Bernal M. Tratado de otorrinolaringología pediátrica. Ponencia de la SEORL 2000.
TomatisA. Foniatria. el oido y la voz..Editorial: Paidotribo. 2010.
Vallejo L.A. Hipoacusia Neurosensorial. Ed. Massón. Barcelona 2003.
VV.AA. Educación de la voz. Anatomía, patologías y tratamiento. Ed Ideaspropias. 2004.

Software

No specific software needed

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan annual morning-mixed
(SCC) Clinical case seminars 111 Catalan annual morning-mixed
(SCC) Clinical case seminars 112 Catalan annual morning-mixed
(SCC) Clinical case seminars 113 Catalan annual morning-mixed