Speech pathology and audiology 

Speech pathology and audiology 

Speech pathology and audiology 

Speech therapy is an allied branch of health sciences related to the disorder of speech, voice, and language of a person. Speech therapy and audiology have become promising career options in recent times. A person who has a degree or diploma in speech therapy is called a speech therapist. The growing awareness among people to treat speech and auditory disorders has increased the demand for these experts. As a result, a career as a speech therapist is proving to have great potential for aspiring students. In daily practice, a speech therapist works with people who have difficulty speaking, forming words or sounds, or who are recovering from injury, illness or trauma that has affected their ability to communicate verbally. Delayed speeches during childhood, stammering, stuttering and lisping are a few examples of speech disorders. Speech disorders can occur due to various reasons including psychological trauma and congenital defects like cerebral palsy and cleft palate. Speech therapists and audiologists also work with old people/ grown-ups who may have lost their ability to communicate due to medical reasons such as strokes, accidents, removal of larynx (because of cancer.) Among other things, a speech therapist’s job includes working with people who stammer, stutter and lisp by teaching them vocal exercises to improve their diction and articulation. They also teach sign language to those who are completely incapable of speech.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates aspiring for a successful career in speech therapy can start by looking into under-graduate courses. However, to be eligible for these courses, you need to have a background in science.  After graduation, if you wish to specialize, then you can pursue a Master's in speech therapy offered by universities.

Courses

• Master of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology (MASLP)- 2 yrs
• Bachelor of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology [BASLP]- 4 yrs
• Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (DHLS)- 1 yr
• Post Graduate Certificate Course in Auditory Verbal Therapy [PGCAVT]- 6 months

Speech Therapy: Institutes/ Colleges

• Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai
• Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi  
• Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• University of Bombay, Mumbai
• TN Medical College, Mumbai
• Osmania University, Hyderabad 

Job Roles –

• Assessing, diagnosing, screening, and preventing language, speech, and swallowing disorders.
• Communicating with the patient, and liaising with their family members, physicians, and teachers to design effective treatment plans.
• Using tried and tested therapies in combination with new, innovative techniques to provide the best care.
• Keeping up-to-date with advancements in the field by attending conferences, conducting research, and expanding professional and academic networks.
• Educating patients and their families on speech disorders and available therapies.
• Taking detailed notes on patient history and progress.
• Providing mentoring and workshops to speech therapy students.
• Evaluating patient progress and implementing changes to therapy programs as required.