Career Guide for Speech therapy Studies

Speech therapy is an allied branch of health science that involves identifying , assessing and treating people with communication disorders. Speech and language problems result from injury, illness, cognitive deficits, developmental delays, or emotional difficulties. Speech therapists, also called speech pathologist, work with people who cannot speak or cannot speak clearly; have speech problems, such as stuttering, an unwanted accent, or an inappropriate pitch; have problems understanding language; or have communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving disorders. They also work with people who have trouble swallowing. The emergence of modern technology and new scientific treatments for speech disorders has increased the demand for these experts.

Courses & eligibility:

The minimum qualification for a bachelor’s degree in speech/language therapy is 10+2 in the science stream. For specialization in a certain area, one may opt for the 2-year master’s course after graduation. After completing bachelor’s/master’s degree in this field, professionals are required to register with either Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) or Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to kick start their professional career. Besides the undergraduate/ postgraduate courses, several institutes offer diploma courses for candidates who have completed class X.

Career Prospects:

About half of all speech-language therapists work in public schools. The remaining engage in private practices or work in colleges and universities, clinics, hospitals, special speech and hearing centers, government agencies and private industry. Some speech pathologists work on research projects to design and develop new equipment or methods for treating speech and hearing problems.Openings in health and rehabilitation services will increase because of advances in medical technology and growth in the elderly population. In addition, demand for speech-language pathologists in schools should increase as people become more aware of the importance of early recognition and treatment of speech problems.

Remuneration:

A fresh graduate can get a starting salary of Rs 8,000-10,000 per month in the government sector. With in few years of experience, it can well go up to Rs 20,000-25,000 per month. Private hospitals offer better salaries and benefits. Private practitioners in speech/language therapy can earn sumptuously with respect to their professional reputation.