Job Description
You've probably heard of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists before, but what do they do?
To begin with, they are highly trained health science professionals who help people of all ages and from all walks of life communicate better.
What do speech-language pathologists do?
Speech-language Pathologists are individuals who treat, evaluate and conduct research in human communication and its disorders. They work with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. As a speech-language pathologist, you would help people to:
- Learn proper sound production and fluent speech.
- Develop proper control of the vocal and respiratory systems for speech and swallowing purposes.
- Learn to express themselves and understand others.
- Relearn language and speech skills following a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
- Understand their speech or language disorder and help to achieve more functional communication abilities.
- Understand types and severities of communication disorders.
- Prevent speech and language disorders.
What do audiologists do?
Audiologists are professionals who specialize in the prevention, identification, treatment and management of individuals with hearing loss, balance problems, and central auditory processing problems. They perform services which include the following:
- Evaluate hearing and the hearing mechanism using specialized equipment.
- Individualize the programming and fitting of hearing aids for people of all ages.
- Provide education and training in how to use hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and cochlear implants.
- Design rehabilitation programs to increase communication skills and provide counseling for hearing impaired individuals and their significant other.
- Evaluate work environments for hearing safety and education settings in order to optimize the environment for hearing impaired children.
- Work with children born with hearing loss, children who have acquired hearing loss early in life, and adults with acquired hearing loss due to disease or the aging process to facilitate the development of speech and language.
