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Speech Therapy Careers

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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 specialise, then you can pursue a Masters in speech therapy offered by universities.

Courses you can pursue

  • 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

Career prospects

  • Those who pursue a doctoral degree in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology or Special Education can expect to be a part of human resource development at various training and research centers specialising in the disability sector.
  • Post graduates in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology can work as lecturers, research officers and master trainers in institutions and medical colleges conducting training programmes and / or research in the field.
  • Graduates in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology can practice as independent audiologists and speech – language pathologists. They will be eligible to work in hospitals (Department of ENT, pediatrics, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, plastic surgery and preventive medicine), speech and hearing centers, hearing aid industry, schools for children with cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, mental retardation, child guidance centers, industrial setups, and as supervisors and research assistants in training programmes.
  • Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (DHLS) holders can work as assistants to audiologists and speech – language pathologists in special schools (for children with hearing impairment, mental retardation etc.), clinics, District Disabilities Rehabilitation Centers and Rural Health Centers.
  • B.Ed. (HI) / (HH) / Spl. Edu. (HI) trained teachers can seek employment in special schools for children with hearing impairment, resource units attached to regular schools and in Integrated Education for Disabled (IED) / District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) Schemes/SSA/RVM. [HI=Hearing Impairment]
  • M.Ed. (HI) trained teachers can also get appointed as principals, high school teachers, lecturers, research officers and master trainers in institutions conducting training programmes.
  • Teachers holding a diploma in Special Education have the option of jobs in pre- primary and primary sections of special schools for children with hearing impairment and resource units attached to regular schools.

Speech Therapist Salary

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.

Speech Therapy : Institutes/ Colleges

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

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