Speech therapist

Audiologists and speech therapists evaluate, manage and treat physical disorders affecting human hearing, speech, communication and swallowing. They prescribe corrective devices or rehabilitative therapies for hearing loss, speech disorders and related sensory and neural problems, and advise on the prevention of hearing loss and speech problems.

• evaluating patients' hearing and speech to determine the nature of hearing and communication disorders;
• conducting hearing and speech tests or examinations using specialised diagnostic instruments and equipment, and interpreting the results together with other medical, social or behavioural diagnostic information to determine appropriate courses of treatment;
• planning, directing or participating in counselling, monitoring or speech rehabilitation programmes and programmes for hearing and communication disorders;
• prescribing hearing devices and other aids according to patients' needs and instructing on their proper use;
• planning and conducting treatment programmes to address physical impairments affecting patients' speech and swallowing;
• advising families, teachers or employers of people with hearing and speech disorders;
• referring patients and their families to additional medical or educational services where necessary.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Speech therapist