SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY

The study of speech and hearing disorders is called Audiology. This is the branch of science that deals with human speech and hearing imbalances. The person who studies this rare subject is called Audiologist. Speech pathology and Audiology involve allied health careers where the professionals are qualified by special training, education, skills to provide health care service. While the practitioners are not physicians but rather known specifically as speech pathologists and audiologists. Speech language pathology and audiology are distinct disciplines. Both deal with speech, language and hearing impairments that disrupt the ability of the sufferer to communicate and interact in various social situations.

The Audiology and Speech Pathology in India was started as a profession by a group of enthusiastic professionals like Dr. N Rathna, Dr. S Nikam, Mr. RameshOza and Dr. Vijay Shah. The first Audiology & Speech Language Therapy program was started in 1966 at T.N.Medical College and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital in Mumbai. In the same year, the Government of India established All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (www.aiishmysore.com) which became the country's leading Institute in the field of communication disorders




Speech language pathologists and audiologists are mostly concerned with the prevention, identification, rehabilitation of children & 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. They 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 are the one who 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 mainly 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.



Audiologist treatment may include examining and cleaning the ear canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and fitting and programming cochlear implants. It also includes counseling on adjusting to hearing loss, training on the use of hearing instruments, and teaching communication strategies for use in a variety of environments. Professionals working in this field are the one who 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, which are usually challenging 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.Certified Speech Language Pathology and Audiology professionals are one who can find employment in Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers , Nursing Care Facilities , Industry , Home Health Agencies , Long-term Care Facilities, Research Labs, Centers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Public or Private Schools, Private Practice, Community Clinics, College/University Clinics, Health Department, State or Government Agencies, Adult Day Care Facilities and Business. 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 of a speech pathologist, also called speech involves diagnosis and treatment of various disorders associated with the communication skills of patients. The treatment also includes mainly curing difficulties associated with swallowing. Depending on the individual experience and training speech pathology professionals have in the field, staffing companies can get them employed in the best suited job positions which range from assistant jobs to supervisory posts.



Indian Speech & Hearing Association (ISHA) was born on 4th April 1966 when the first All India Workshop on Speech & Hearing Problems was held at Vellore (South India). Dr.Y.P.Kapur, an eminent ENT Specialist who was working on Deafness Research Project at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, organized it. More than 1500 audiologists and speech therapists are trained in past thirty-four years. Minimum requirement for admission is the same as for medical degree program. There are ten institutions offering B.Sc./M.Sc. programs in Audiology & Speech Pathology and four recognized for Ph.D programs. More than 20 persons have completed Ph.D. from these institutions.



To practice audiology, most of the professionals need to have either Bachelors/Masters degree in Audiology and be registered with Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) or Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

• For undergraduate courses the candidates should have passed the pre-university course or 10+2 from a recognized institution with science subjects - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.



• The duration for an undergraduate course is 3 to 4 years. The various universities may grant admissions either on the basis of marks of the 10+2 course or they may conduct specific entrance tests to gauge the merit and aptitude of the aspirants.



• Admission to the 2 year post graduate courses requires a graduation in speech language pathology and audiology. Besides the undergraduate/ post graduate courses, several institutes offer diploma courses of varying durations.

University courses in speech language pathology and audiology include acoustics, anatomy, assessment, counseling, hearing disorders, hearing aids, language development and disorders, linguistics, neurology and neurophysiology, nonvocal communication, parent training, psychology, phonetics, speech disorders, statistics, stuttering, voice and voice disorders, and a variety of specific areas (e.g., autism). The courses and clinical practice cover the development, disorders, and the training or retraining of human communication in all its aspects.

• Bachelor in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology (B.A.S.L.P)


• Bachelor of Speech Pathology and Audiology


• BSc Audiology & Speech Rehabilitation(BSc ASR)


• BSc (Hearing, Language & Speech)


• BSc (Speech & Hearing)


• Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (D.H.L.S)


• MSc (Hearing, Language & Speech)


• Master in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology(M.A.S.L.P)


• MSc (Speech & Hearing)

Speechpatholgy and Audiology Bachelor in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology (B.A.S.L.P) Ali Yavar Jung National Institute For The Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Kishenchand Marg, Bandra Reclamation (W) Mumbai, (Maharashtra) BSc Audiology & Speech Rehabilitation (BSc ASR) Christian Medical College, Thorapudi P.O, Vellore-632002, (Tamil Nadu) Christian Medical College, Thorapudi P.O, Vellore-632002, (Tamil Nadu) Kasturba Medical College, Manipal-576119, (Karnataka) National Institute of Physiotherapy & Communication Disorders, PMP Bhavan, Kashi Nath Lane, East Lohanipur, Patna-800003, (Bihar) Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh-160012, (Chandigarh) University of Madras, Century Building, Chepauk, (Tamil Nadu) Bachelor of Speech Pathology and Audiology Ali Yavar Jung National Institute For The Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Kishenchand Marg, Bandra Reclamation (W) Mumbai, (Maharashtra) Master in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology (M.A.S.L.P) Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Kishenchand Marg, Bandra Reclamation (W) Mumbai, (Maharashtra)

This opinion article addresses the issue of EBP in academic, research and clinical settings in India. EBP is not an alien concept for Speech-Language Pathologists/Audiologists in the country. Most professionals in practice are acquainted with the idea of integrating current research evidence with clinical expertise in the context of the client's own life situation. With the aim of eliminating nonstandard practice patterns in both assessment and intervention, experts in the field have developed guidelines for working with a wide range of clinical populations in India.

This opinion article addresses the issue of E Monographs and journals are being published periodically by academic institutions and professional bodies in an effort to bridge the research-to-practice gap. This opinion article reviews the EBP implementation problems unique to the subcontinent including diverse languages and dialects, lack of standard tools for assessment in different languages, financial constraints, illiteracy non availability of specialized centers and the lack of a mechanism to monitor clinical practices in India. Dept. of Speech-Language Pathology, A.YJ. National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai, India. gmuk5@yahoo.com