Language and speech, one of the most important tools of human communication with their environment, affect an individual's entire life. Experts emphasize the importance of speech and language therapy education, noting that disorders in the field of language and speech affect a person's quality of life. Experts note that Speech and Language Therapy is one of the most preferred and competitive professions in the world today.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Head of Department of Speech and Language Therapy and Director of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Speech and Language Therapy Research and Application Center (ÜSESKOM) Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot made evaluations regarding speech and language therapy education and its importance.
They work for the lifelong prevention of communication-related disorders…
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot stated that speech and language therapists deal with human communication - language - speech. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, 'Regardless of the causes, they treat all voice, speech, swallowing functions, and language disorders in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. A speech and language therapist is a professional responsible for the lifelong prevention, differential diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and scientific examination of disorders related to human communication.'
One of the most preferred professions
Providing information about the Speech and Language Therapy profession, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, 'The profession of Speech and Language Therapy is an interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary independent scientific field that complements biomedical sciences (anatomy, physiology, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, otolaryngology, genetics, physical therapy and rehabilitation, audiology, etc.), clinical linguistics (phonetics, acoustics, phonology, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics), psychology, cognitive neuropsychology, and special education sciences, and is also defined in the legal framework as a healthcare professional. Speech and Language Therapy is one of the most preferred and competitive professions in the world today.'
The history of undergraduate programs is very new
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot noted that undergraduate programs for training Speech and Language Therapists in our country have a very recent history, stating, 'The first undergraduate program started in the 2012-2013 academic year. Üsküdar Üniversitesi also holds an important position in training qualified personnel in this field by launching its undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education programs in 2014.'
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, 'At Üsküdar Üniversitesi, education and training are carried out with compulsory and applied clinical studies, and by offering elective course opportunities to students, it contributes to meeting the need for qualified and well-equipped graduated personnel to serve the needs of the region and the country.'
Undergraduate students contribute scientifically with their research
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot stated that undergraduate students of Speech and Language Therapy also conduct scientific research in the field of speech and language disorders and therapy at ÜSESKOM and other institutions, under the guidance of department faculty members and doctoral students. He added, 'As every year, this year too, final-year undergraduate students presented their research findings. This year, 76 papers were presented at the symposium. Efforts are underway to convert these papers into articles for publication in scientific journals.'
ÜSESKOM moved to Ümraniye Health Sciences Campus
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot stated that converting theoretical knowledge in the curriculum into practice with a multidisciplinary approach is an indispensable condition of our profession. He added, 'This also largely requires a master-apprentice relationship. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Speech and Language Therapy Research and Application Center (ÜSESKOM), established in 2013 to provide the necessary academic support for applied courses in associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs, will henceforth continue its activities at its location on the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Ümraniye Health Sciences Campus.'
Practical opportunities are offered
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot stated that their university offers significant opportunities to its students in Speech and Language Therapy education, saying:
'In addition to continuously improving its physical infrastructure, it also expands the service opportunities of the Speech and Language Therapy units at NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi and NP Feneryolu Medical Centers, which support students' practical training. With the employment of two new speech and language therapists at NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi and one at NP Feneryolu Medical Center, the DKT services for the community have increased, as have our students' practical and observation opportunities. If our university candidates want to have a profession with broad employment areas, we invite them to Üsküdar Üniversitesi, which leads with its specialized work in the health field and strives to educate qualified graduates with a student-centered approach, to receive speech and language therapy education, a pleasant and in many ways satisfying profession that is newly developing in our country.'