Intoduction to the Department

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEPARTMENT
 
The field of speech-language pathology includes individuals with speech, language, and communication problems and even swallowing disorders from childhood to adulthood. Speech-language pathologists have a unique role in the prevention or early diagnosis of these problems. Speech and language therapists can serve as an indispensable part of a multidisciplinary team in the treatment of individuals, as well as individuals contributing to human health.

The Department of Speech and Language Therapy is available in a small number of universities in our country. The first Speech and Language Therapists in our country graduated in the 2015-2016 academic year. Therefore, there are wide opportunities to work as a speech and language therapist in private and public institutions. Although it is a new discipline, it is possible to do a master's and a doctorate in the field of speech-language pathology.

In the 2019-2020 academic year, the first semester of Speech and Language Therapy undergraduate students started their education at our university. With the advantage of being a relatively new discipline in our country, curriculum planning was made in parallel with other speech and language therapy programs in our country within the framework of the National Core Education Program.

The application process for the opening of a master's degree program in Speech and Language Therapy within the Graduate Education Institute of our university is in progress.
Our competent expert staff, who work within our faculty and also work with individuals with speech and language disorders, work with high energy to guide our students in both theoretical and practical fields.
 
OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE AS A PROFESSION
 
While practicing their profession, speech, and language therapists communicate through games, pictures, books, and objects appropriate to the age and needs of individuals to promote language development within the scope of language intervention activities. They strive to build correct pronunciation and language skills. Articulation therapy directs individuals to correct syllable and sound production through exercises. With oral-motor/nutritional and swallowing therapy, facial massage, tongue, lip, and jaw exercises, and oral muscle strengthening activities are performed, and different food textures and temperatures are used to increase individuals' swallowing awareness.

Speech and Language Therapists have the opportunity to work in the relevant clinics of state, private, or university hospitals, special education centers, and rehabilitation centers. Our graduates can establish private workplaces or provide services in the centers they have created together with relevant experts. Graduates of the department who want to pursue an academic career can continue their postgraduate education and pursue an academic career.

Looking at the situation of the profession in the coming years, it is seen that the low number of graduates increases employment opportunities in this field.
 

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
 
Speech and Language Therapy specializes in the treatment of both congenital and acquired speech disorders. Graduates from this field usually work in the fields of education and health. They can work in an institution or have the chance to establish their workplace. As a profession prone to teamwork, speech and language pathology also offers the opportunity to work in a clinical environment with physicians and other professionals. It is also possible to pursue a career in the academic field by continuing graduate and doctoral education.

Speech and language therapists work with individuals from different age groups. They work to prevent communication disorders in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, diagnose and implement intervention programs, and follow up on this process. In addition, they take part in the elimination of speech and language problems observed in children with Down syndrome and autism.
 
Speech and language therapists can specialize in the following areas:
Early speech and language education and therapy for children with special needs,
Voice and specific language disorders,
Articulation: speech sound disorders due to conditions such as cleft lip and palate, cerebral palsy (CP), delayed development such as functional developmental disability, or other speech sound disorders of unknown cause,
Therapy for swallowing and swallowing disorders,
Speech and language delays caused by genetic factors,
Stuttering, speaking fast or loudly,
Speech and language difficulties following a brain injury or stroke,
Hearing-impaired individuals,
Evaluation and therapy of speech and language loss after stroke and other neurologically based speech and language disorders,
Disorders affecting logical reasoning,
Speech and language therapy for individuals with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dysgraphia,
Therapy for communication with individuals with Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's, which occur due to old age.

GAINS TO BE ACHIEVED WHEN PREFERRED
 
The educational requirements provided in the Department of Speech and Language Therapy develop the basic theoretical knowledge and specialized clinical skills required by the speech and language therapy profession, as well as the academic study skills needed to qualify for higher education. Throughout the undergraduate program, a range of topics such as introduction to phonetics and phonology, communication disabilities and psychology, professional practice, and clinical applications will be studied. You will be introduced to developing individual treatment programs and providing tailored support to patients.

At our university, which emphasizes scientific thinking, there is the opportunity to gain both theoretical and practical experience. Theoretical and practical work will continue throughout undergraduate education in other areas of experience, such as language disorders, speech disorders, voice disorders, aphasia, dysarthria, word-finding difficulties, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties, and reading and writing disorders.

If the 'Speech and Language Therapy department is preferred and completed, there may be opportunities to work in hospitals, health centers, schools, and specialized units. Graduates may also choose to pursue postgraduate study. Some clinicians are employed by charities or in private practice. There are also opportunities to work abroad.