Speech therapist introduction
Speech therapists are the experts who deal with the persons, having problems in speaking, forming words, lack of clarity in conveying the message, etc. Career scope in speech therapy has increased manifolds after huge awareness among the people regarding this disorder. In the article, we will discuss about speech therapy career, courses, admission, jobs, salary, colleges, degree, how to become a speech therapist, etc. Speech therapists are also known as Speech-language Pathologists (SLP) and Speech pathologists.
Speech therapist eligibility
To become a speech therapist, eligibility for the different courses are given below:
- Diploma Courses: One should passed 10+2 examination in science stream.
- Undergraduate courses: One should have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. Who has completed 3 years diploma after the class 10, are also eligible.
- Post graduate degrees: One have to pass graduation of 3 years course to get enrolled in Post-graduation.
- Doctoral degrees: A candidate can enrolled in PhD who has successfully passed post-graduation.
Speech therapist courses and duration
Diploma courses:
- Diploma in Hearing, Language and Speech-1 year
- Diploma in Hearing Aid and earmould Technology-1 year
- Post graduate Certificate Course in Auditory Verbal Therapy-6 months
Bachelor courses:
- B.Sc. in Speech and Hearing-3 years
- Bachelor of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology-4 years
Post graduate course:
- Master of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology-2 years
- M.Sc. in Speech and Language Therapy-2 years
- M.Sc. in Audiology-2 years
- M.Sc. in Speech Language Therapy-2 years
Ph.D Courses:
- PhD in Audiology
- PhD in Speech Language Pathology
What are different speech therapist jobs?
Speech therapists after completing their courses, have many options to opt as per their interest. Here, few of the job options, which are most sought after completing speech therapist course.
- Audiologist: An audiologist is a speech language therapist who deal with the patients hearing loss and knows how to treat the hearing problems. Audiologists are well equipped with diverse areas of hearing disorders viz. vestibular, auditory balance, cochlear implants, tinnitus, auditory care, etc.
- Speech Pathology reader: They are the specialist of speech therapy who works to treat speech, language, communication both in children and adults. Their main job is to help the patient to make them understand the voice and language in a better way.
- Clinical Supervisor: They deal with employee’s problems, individual caseworks and mental health counselling.
- Lecture in special school: They are the specialists who use skill like braille for visually disable students and lip reading for the students who are having hearing issues.
- Teacher: They work in school and responsible for making lesson plans, assessments, and track students day to day activities, etc.
- Researcher: There is a vast opportunity of speech therapist who want to acquire higher and deeper knowledge by doing research. They do assessment, examinations, experiments, testing, etc. to get better results in hearing disorders.
Job opportunity for speech therapist
After completion the course, the speech language pathologist can apply in varied sector for job employment.
- Hospitals both in Government and private
- NGOs
- Health care set up
- Firms who are dealing with hearing disorders.
- Clinics
- Disabilities rehabilitation centre
- Rural health centre
- Hearing centre
Salary of speech therapist
At the start one can get Rs. 20,000/- to Rs. 30, 000/- per month. But after having experience, salary may increase up to lakh even more for the deserving candidates. Considering the demand of the sector, one can also start one’s private clinic. However, in the developed countries like USA, the average salary of the speech therapist is quite high. The average salary in USA is $79, 120 per year. The Speech Language Pathologists get highest salary in cities like Napa, San Francisco, Jackson, and Tulsa of USA.
Important books for Speech Therapist
- The Handbook for Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Disorders by Chritstine A. Dollaghan
- Augmentative & Alternative Communication by David Bekuelman
- Stuttering by Barry Guitar
- Language Development from Theory to Practice by Khara L. Pence Turnbull
- Speech and Language Therapy by Myra Kersner, jannet A. Wright
- An Advanced Review of Speech Language Pathology by MN Hegde
- Speech and Language Second Edition: Clinical Process and Practice by Monica Bray
- Treating Phonological Disorders In Children by Howell & Dean
- A Resource Guide for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention by NCHAM
- Screening for Speech and Language Delay in Preschool Children by U.S. Preventive Service Task Force
- An early Start for your Child with Autism by Rogers
- Hereditary Hearing Loss and its Syndromes by Teriello
Top colleges and institutions for Speech Therapy
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
- All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore
- Osmania University, Hyderabad
- University of Bombay, Mumbai
- TN Medical College, Mumbai
- Institute of Speech & Hearing , Bangalore
- Indian Institute of Health Education, Patna
- Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai
- Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
- University of Chennai, Chennai
- Kasturba Gandhi Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka
- Institute of Nursing, Mangalore
Speech therapist demands in USA
There are many cities in USA where the demand of Speech language Pathologist is quite high. The name of some of the USA cities is given below:
- New York City
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Boston
- Los Angeles
- Homosassa Springs
- Jonesboro
- Gadsden
- Ogden
USA states with Speech Therapist shortage
There are many states in USA, which are facing shortage of Speech Language Pathologists. The name of such states is given below:
- Washington
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- West Virginia
