Speech pathology and Audiology are allied health careers where the professionals
are qualified by special training, education, skills and experience to
provide health care service and treatment. While the field is an allied
health field, the practitioners are not physicians but rather known specifically
as speech pathologists and audiologists. Speech language pathology and
audiology are distinct disciplines, but are so interrelated that to be
fully competent in either, one should be familiar with both. Both deal
with speech, language and hearing impairments that disrupt the ability
of the sufferer to communicate and interact in various social situations.
Speech language pathologists and audiologists are concerned with the
prevention, identification and rehabilitation of children and adults with
communication disorders and hearing impairment. Audiologists examine people
of all ages and identify symptoms of hearing loss, auditory, balance and
related sensory and neural problems. They use specialized equipments like
audiometers, computers and other testing devices to evaluate and estimate
the impact of auditory and balance problems on the client's daily life.
Audiologists then use the results from these tests to prepare a diagnosis
and design a course of treatment by using remedial measures and rehabilitation
strategies depending on what the situation demands.
Speech therapists or speech language pathologists work with people who
have speech disorders like inability to produce sounds, speech rhythm
and fluency problems and also people who have swallowing disorders due
to problems like cleft palate or other medical conditions which may be
congenital, developmental or acquired. Speech language pathologists' work
involves assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of speech-related
disorders, designing and employment of augmentative and alternative communication
methods. Sometimes they also need to counsel and advise patients and their
family to deal with speech disorders and situations arising because of
them and alleviate stress and misunderstanding.
In India, the first Audiology & Speech Language Therapy program was
started in 1966 at T.N.Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital
in Mumbai. The Government of India established All India Institute of
Speech and Hearing in 1966 at Mysore. Today this institute is the country's
leading institute in the field of communication disorders. There are about
20 universities in India which provide Speech Pathology & Audiology
programs which are accredited by Rehabilitation Council of India.
The job titles for professionals working in this field include Audiologist,
Program Director, Rehabilitation Counselor, Sign Language Interpreter,
Language Specialist, Linguist, Speech Pathologist etc. These professions
provide essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds in developing
the vital human skill - communication. They offer a variety of specialization
opportunities, challenges and have relevance to daily living. As these
professionals help people make their lives more productive and richer
by improving people's communication skills their career is well respected
and gives an opportunity to make a difference in other people's life.
