The Goals of the Department of Speech and Language Therapy are:
- To provide students with the necessary knowledge of the natural sciences associated with the assessment of human communication (language, speech and voice) and the assessment of the swallowing movements of the oropharynx, as well as the prevention, therapy and scientific research of their related disorders.
- To provide services related to the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of developmental and acquired communication disorders in preschools, schools, hospitals and other relevant institutions, including the Department’s Speech and Language Therapy Clinic, as part of the clinical practicum courses.
- To conduct scientific research on issues related to language, voice, speech, swallowing and their disorders, with a focus on the Greek language as well as other languages that are used in the multicultural and multilingual community.
- To prepare graduates having acquired the necessary scientific knowledge and clinical skills, to provide professional services in all aforementioned areas and populations related to the field of communication disorders.
Academic goals
- To provide state-of-the-art scientific knowledge regarding the characteristics and the development of human communication and swallowing across the lifespan (typical populations).
- To provide state-of-the-art theoretical and clinical knowledge regarding the aetiology, diagnosis and therapy of disorders of communication and swallowing.
- To provide courses that reflect modern clinical practice according to the needs of modern Greek society, so as to prepare students for the practice of the profession in a multilingual and multicultural environment.
- To educate students on the most current research and technological methodologies and the available scientific literature of the field. Student should be able to critically analyze both the scientific literature and its clinical application.
- To conduct scientific research oriented to the aforementioned goals, with a focus on the disorders of communication and swallowing. Regarding language disorders in particular, research should focus on their exact manifestation in the Greek language across all linguistic levelsas well as in other languages spoken in the community.
Clinical education goals
- To provide training to students to manage patient cases with communication disorders and swallowing disorders of different types and varying levels of severity.
- To provide students with opportunities to relate theoretical knowledge to clinical issues related to assessment and intervention, following the principles of evidence-based practice.
- To help students develop the principles of professionalism and responsibility abiding by the ethical standards of the health-related professions.
- To train students to collaborate as members of multidisciplinary teams, participating in the management of patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
- To prepare graduates to work in a speech and language therapy private practice setting.