Audiology and Speech Language Pathology is one of the lesser-known fields. However, nowadays due to the growing awareness about learning disabilities and their close connection with speech and audio complications, this field is slowly gaining recognition.
What is Audiology and Speech Language Pathology?
Audiology is the study of hearing and balance disorders which combines the best available technology and medical science in order to come up with solutions to the hearing and balance disorders people have. The audiology practitioners are known as audiologists.
Speech Language Pathology on the other hand is the study related to speech and language disorders. It plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The practitioners are known as speech language pathologists. A common misconception about speech language pathology is being restricted to adjusting a speaker’s speech sound articulation to meet expected normal pronunciation. However, it often helps people to get over stuttering and speak fluently.
This field of Speech Language Pathology is considered a related health profession or allied health profession. It is studied along with audiology, optometry, physical therapy and others. The most common combination to study is Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. This field opens up the possibilities to work as both an audiologist as well as a speech language pathologist.
What do Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists Do?
Audiologists help people with hearing amplification issues, hearing disability, auditory processing disorders, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Misophonia and balance disorders. They also help in designing and implementing hearing safety programs, and provide custom fitted ear plugs and other hearing protection devices which help to prevent hearing loss.
Speech Audio Pathologists help people childhood speech apraxia, adult speech apraxia, Dysarthria, sluttering, Speech sound disorders, voice disorders and Orofacial myofunctional disorders.
A person who has studied the combination Audiology and Speech Language Pathology can do the work of both an audiologist as well a pathologist. They are able to treat both speech and language disorders as well as the hearing and balance disorders.
Where to Study Audiology and Speech Language Pathology?
Presently, about twenty universities in India provide Audiology and Speech Language Pathology programs accredited by the Rehabilitation Council of India. At some institutes Audiology and Speech Language Pathology falls in the ENT department.
To get a degree in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, you need to join the B.A.S.L.P. course. The full form of B.A.S.L.P. is Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.
If you wondering where to get you degree in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology in India, we are here with the list of the top ten colleges which offer the B.A.S.L.P. course (according to the 2019 rating):
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai
- Manipal University, Manipal
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry
- SRM University Kattankulathur, Chennai
- Guru Gobind Sing Indraprastha University
- Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai
- Amity University, Gurgaon
- Maharishi Markandeshwar Deemed to be University
Now that you know what Audiology and Speech Language Pathology is all about, what audiologists and speech language pathologists do, and the names of the best colleges in India for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, all you need to do is score well in the entrance examination and you are in! Welcome to the world of Medical Science.
