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.
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 specialise, then you can pursue a Masters in speech therapy offered by universities.
In India, a speech therapist or audiologist in a government hospital gets a starting salary of around Rs.5000 per month and this can go up to Rs.20,000 after gaining 2-3 years of work experience. Private hospitals offer better salaries and benefits.
Outside of India, speech therapists are paid much higher salaries. A speech therapist gets an annual average salary of about $52,000 and the highest salary being paid is $80,000 per annum.
Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped
Located at Kishanchand Marg, Bandra (West), Mumbai, four Regional Centers located at Secunderabad, Kolkata, Noida and Janla (Bhubaneswar) and two Composite Regional Centers at Bhopal and Ahmadabad for Persons with Disabilities
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
Sector 12Chandigarh 160012
Course: B.Sc Audiology and Speech & Language
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Ansari Nagar,
New Delhi 110029
Course: BSc Speech Therapy and Hearing, MSc Speech Pathology and Audiology
Gujarat University
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 880009, Gujarat
Course: Diploma in Audiology and Speech Therapy
University of Bombay
Ali Yavar Jung National Institutefor the Hearing Handicapped
Kishen Chansd Marg,
Bandra (West) Mumbai 400050
Course: B.Sc. Hearing & Language M.Sc Hearing Speech and Language
TN Medical College
BYL Nair Charitable Hospital
Mumbai 400008
Course: BSc Speech & Hearing M.Sc
Osmania University
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Course: BSc Hearing Lang. & speech
University of Chennai
Centenary Building Chepauk
Chennai 600005
Course: BSc Speech & Hearing M.Sc Audiology & Speech Therapy
University of Mysore
Karya Saudha, Crawford Hall,
PB No. 17, Mysore 570005, Karnataka
Course: BSc (Speech Pathology or audiology), MSc speech & Hearing
Kasturba Gandhi Medical College
Manipal, Karnataka
Course: BSc Speech & Hearing
Institute of Speech & Hearing
Hannur Road, Bangalore
Course: BSc Hearing Lang. & speech
Institute of Nursing
A.B Shetty Marg, Mangalore
Course: BSc Hearing Lang. & speech
All India Institute & Special Hearing
Mansazangolhri, Mysore 576006
Course: B.Sc Hearing Lang. & speech M.Sc
JM Institute of Speech &Hearing
Inderpuri, Keshrinagar
Patna 800023
Course: Dip. in Hearing Language & Speech
Indian Institute of Health Education
Near Control Jail Berur
Patna 800002
Course: B.Sc Hearing Language & Speech
Medical Trust Hospital
MG Road Cochin 582016
Course: Dip. in Hearing Language Speech
Sri Ram Chandra Medical Institute
Porur, Chennai 600010
Course: B.Sc Hearing Lang. & Speech