Competencies

The Bachelor's degree in Speech Therapy from the University of La Laguna, in line with the draft of its own guidelines and the orientations contained in the White Book of Speech Therapy, has as its general objective The training, at a general and non-specialized level, of professionals with the scientific knowledge necessary to understand, interpret, analyze, and explain the field of speech therapy and with the basic skills and abilities to evaluate and intervene at the individual and social level throughout the life cycle, in order to promote and improve health and quality of life.

Article 7, section F of the LOPS (Law on the Regulation of Health Professions; Law 44/2003 of November 21) very briefly defines the role of the speech therapist: developing the activities of prevention, evaluation and recovery of hearing, phonation and language disorders, using therapeutic techniques specific to their discipline.

The graduate in Speech Therapy must know and be able to integrate:

1. The biological foundations of Speech Therapy: Anatomy and physiology.
2. The psychological foundations of Speech Therapy: Language development, psychological development, Neuropsychology of language, basic processes, Psycholinguistics.
3. The linguistic foundations of Speech Therapy: Phonetics and phonology, morphosyntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics.
4. The educational foundations of Speech Therapy: Teaching and learning processes.
5. The methodological foundations for research in Speech Therapy.
6. Know the classification, terminology and description of communication, language, speech, voice and hearing disorders, and non-verbal oral functions.
7. Know, recognize, and discriminate among the variety of disorders: specific language development disorders: specific language disorder, language delays, phonetic and phonological disorders; communication and language disorders associated with hearing and visual deficits, attention deficit, mental deficiency, pervasive developmental disorder, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities; specific written language disorders; dyscalculia; language development disorders due to social deprivation and those associated with multicultural contexts and multilingualism; speech fluency disorders; aphasias and associated disorders; dysarthrias; dysphonias; dysglossias; language disorders in aging and degenerative disorders; language and communication disorders in mental illness; mutism and language inhibitions; disorders of nonverbal oral functions: atypical swallowing, dysphagia, and tubal disorders.
8. Know the fundamentals of the evaluation and diagnostic process.
9. Know and know how to apply evaluation models, techniques and instruments.
10. To be able to assess language disorders in: specific language development disorders: specific language disorder, language delays, phonetic and phonological disorders; communication and language disorders associated with hearing and visual impairments, attention deficit, mental deficiency, pervasive developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities; specific written language disorders; dyscalculia; language development disorders due to social deprivation and those associated with multicultural and multilingual contexts; speech fluency disorders; aphasias and associated disorders; dysarthrias; dysphonias; dysglossias; language disorders in aging and degenerative disorders; language and communication disorders in mental illness; mutism and language inhibitions; disorders of nonverbal oral functions: atypical swallowing, dysphagia, and tubal disorders.
11. Know how to write a speech therapy evaluation report.
12. Know how to carry out an evaluation after the intervention.
13. Know and respect the general principles of speech therapy intervention.
14. Know the functions of speech therapy: prevention, education, re-education, rehabilitation and treatment.
15. Know and know how to apply the intervention models and techniques.
16. Know the differential characteristics of speech therapy intervention in the family, school, clinical-health and care settings.
17. To understand and perform speech therapy interventions for: specific language development disorders: specific language disorder, language delays, phonetic and phonological disorders; communication and language disorders associated with hearing and visual deficits, attention deficit, mental deficiency, pervasive developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities; specific written language disorders; dyscalculia; alterations in language development due to social deprivation and those associated with multicultural and multilingual contexts; speech fluency disorders; aphasias and associated disorders; dysarthrias; dysphonias; dysglossias; language disorders in aging and degenerative disorders; language and communication disorders in mental illness; mutism and language inhibitions; alterations in nonverbal oral functions: atypical swallowing, dysphagia, and tubal disorders.
18. Know and know how to perform speech therapy intervention in Early Care.
19. Know and know how to implement Augmentative Communication Systems (ACS).
20. Know and know how to implement technical aids for communication.
21. Know how to design and prepare speech therapy reports.
22. Know how to design, program and evaluate speech therapy.
23. Know, apply, and critically assess pedagogical techniques, as well as methodological and didactic resources for language teaching.
24. Understand the concept of speech therapy: purpose and method; the profession of speech therapy; the history of speech therapy; ethics and legislation relevant to professional practice.
25. Know the organization of educational, health and social institutions.
26. Acquire practical knowledge for speech therapy evaluation.
27. Know how to carry out strategic planning of speech therapy intervention.
28. Acquire practical knowledge in speech therapy intervention (practical training in school, clinical-health and care settings).
29. Acquire practical training for individual, group, cooperative and mediation work with a facilitator.
30. Know the professional performance and the environments where the practice takes place.
31. Acquire or develop personal resources for intervention: social and communication skills, professional skills, evaluations of one's own professional performance, observation techniques, dynamization techniques, decision-making, etc.
32. Know how to use information and communication technologies.
33. Prepare and present a Final Degree Project that integrates the training content and acquired skills.

In addition to these knowledge and skills, a degree in Speech Therapy involves acquiring a series of transversal skills.

• Synthesis.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Teamwork and collaboration with other professionals.
• Self-criticism.
• Development and maintenance of the competencies, skills, and knowledge specific to the profession.

As for generic competencies such as organizational and planning skills, use of new information technologies, decision-making skills, teamwork skills, interpersonal skills, leadership, initiative, and entrepreneurial spirit, these will be developed and assessed in various activities proposed throughout most of the degree subjects, as indicated in the examination report.