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A speech therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats communication and speech issues. They treat individuals who suffer from speech problems that are caused due to sickness or injury. Speech Therapists also treats children with developmental delays. Speech Therapy is the ideal career for those who want to treat children and adults having difficulty in speaking for varied reasons and want to improve their lives.Speech therapists help kids suffering from speech difficulties viz. dyslexia and dyspraxia along with older people who have lost their ability to speak due to some illness or injury.
Some of the top courses that can be pursued to become a speech therapist in India are BSc Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, MSc Audio Speech Therapy etc. India has some of the top colleges who offer courses in Speech Therapy, such as National Institute of Speech and Hearing, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions etc. Admissions to these colleges are done on the basis of entrance exams such as IPU CET, NEST, BITSAT etc.
The speech therapist in India spends around INR 100,000-INR 200,000 as the fees for the courses at various levels of education and earns INR 200,000-300,000 in the first year thus, breaking even in the first year itself.
To become a speech therapist the aspirants must have relevant degrees at the undergraduate and postgraduate level such as B.Sc in Audiology, BASLP, MSc Audiology etc.
- How to Become a Speech Therapist: Quick Facts
- Steps to become a Speech Therapist
- Types of Speech Therapist
3.1 Speech language pathologist
3.2 Audiologist
3.4 Lecturer (School for differently abled and autistic Children)
3.5 Teacher
3.7 Researcher
5.1 MSc in Audio Speech Therapy
5.2 Other Relevant Speech Therapy courses in India
5.2.1 BASLP
5.2.2 BSc in Audiology
How to Become a Speech Therapist: Quick Facts
| Industry | Health Care Institutions, Nursing Care Facilities, Rehabilitation Centers, Academic Universities, Special Schools |
| Eligibility |
The Speech therapist degree requirement for the various level of the course has been discussed: At Diploma Level, the candidates must be from science background and having completed 10+2 level exam from any recognized board At Undergraduate level, the candidates should have passed their 10+2 exam from any recognized board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as compulsory subjects and must have secured a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks. Candidates need to qualify the entrance exams as well To study speech therapy courses at the postgraduate level candidates need to have at least a graduation degree of a duration of 3 years, from a recognized university and qualify the entrance examination. At the PhD level the candidates need to pass their post graduate degree from a recognized university with minimum 50% marks and qualify the entrance exam. |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,00,000 per annum |
| Job Opportunity | Speech therapists, Audiologists,Clinical speech pathology assistants |
What does a Speech Therapist do?
The following are the major responsibilities of a speech therapist
- Assessing and understanding the disability: The first job of a speech therapist is to understand the nature of the disability or problem of their patients. The speech therapist figures out the root cause, which may be injuries, autism, Parkinson disease, oral cancer or even swallowing difficulties.
- Establishing communication: After diagnosing the root cause of the problem, the speech therapist sets the groundwork for communication with their patients. The speech therapist uses receptive or expressive languages (sign languages) to communicate with their patient initially.
- Creating the overall therapy schedule: The speech therapist then prepares the therapy session according to the following parameters such as their age, severity of the disorders, frequency of treatment and any other medical conditions. The speech therapist uses various techniques such as language activities (using books, objects, pictures), swallowing exercises, articulation exercises to reduce the speech latency of the patients.
- Follow up session: The speech therapist adjusts the follow up session according to the response of the patients to the treatment. The follow up seasons are focused at building up vocabulary, expressing more complex ideas, increasing the phonological awareness and building up social interaction skills.
- In some cases the speech therapist uses various speech therapy apps such as Splingo, DAF Pro, Apraxia Therapy, and many more so that the patient's family can continue the session at home. They also educate the patients and their family about speech disorders so that they keep their expectation of recovery realistic.
Steps to become a Speech Therapist
The career as a speech therapist is highly lucrative as it allows the candidates to have a good opportunity for career advancement. Employment opportunities for speech therapists is expected to grow by 19% till 2024, making it one of the fastest growing career options.
However, in order to become speech therapist in India the following steps must be taken
- Decision making: In order to become a successful speech therapist, the candidates need to make astulute decision from the class 10+2 level itself. They have to take up science subjects in their 10+2 level. The science stream is considered to be comparatively harder than the arts and commerce so they must be absolutely sure before making a decision.
- Subject choices: As indicated in the above point the candidates must science in their 10+2 level. The candidates need to choose biology in the 10+2 level so that they can appear for the entrance examination.The PG specialisation must be chosen in such a way that it remains re;evant to the UG courses.
- Entrance Examination: The candidates must pass the entrance examination so that they can achieve admission to the preferred course. The entrance examinations for the different levels of the course are NEET UG, BITSAT, JIPMER UG Entrance Examination, NEST, etc. Candidates need to take proper preparation to qualify for the entrance examination
- After Qualifying Entrance Examination: After passing the entrance examination, the next logical step for the camdisites is to consider taking admission to the different colleges. The candidates should take note of the following steps before taking admission.
- Check out the top colleges in the particular stream based on the ranking provided by the various agencies like NIRF, India Today,Outlook, etc.
- Check out the previous years cutoff of the different colleges and the reviews of the colleges from the students of the previous batch.
- Make comparative analysis of the fees and the future placement option and calculate the return of investment.
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After the course: After the completion of the course the candidates can look for job opportunities. Most of the candidates are absorbed in clinics (private or government), special schools, academic institutes, etc.
Types of Speech Therapist
Scope of work of a speech therapist covers a wide range of roles based on their areas of interest, some of which are listed below:
Speech language pathologist
These are specialists who assess, diagnose and treat children and adults suffering from swallowing disorders,communication disorders, cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders and other related problems. Additionally, Speech Language Pathologist also provides aural rehabilitation to patients with hearing problems. They provide augmented and alternative communication (AAC) system to patients with autism spectrum disorder or progressive neurological disorders
Audiologist
A specialist dealing with diagnosis and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss and related disorders inclusive of vestibular and ear-ringing disorders and treatments may include cochlear implants, auditory care and balance, paediatrics etc. They try to provide the clients with alternate modes of communication such as sign languages and lip reading.
Speech Pathology Reader
These specialist deal with assessing, diagonising and treating children as well as adults suffering from speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication along with swallowing disorder.Patients being treated might deaf or dumb but want to interact effectively.
Lecturer (School for differently abled and autistic Children)
These individuals teach visually disabled students and students with hearing loss by adapting Braille and sign language, lip-reading along with conventional teaching methods.With the advancement of technology, computers and audio-visual resources also add new layers to teaching methods for these differently abled students.
Teacher
These professionals are responsible for designing lessons and present their specialized programs to students during the course curriculum. In addition to the usual course of work they are also involved in designing assessments, developing and implementing rules in classrooms, along with tracking students’ progress along with preparing students for standardized testing. They also provide support to the children with autism spectrum disorders and emotional disabilities.
Clinical Supervisor
These professionals monitor individual case work along with providing advice and solutions through assessments and observations.In addition they are also involved in mental health counseling to resolve ethical and legal problems.
Researcher
These specialists are involved in tracking and managing information between departments for research projects. In addition, they conduct comprehensive assessments, experiments, examinations, collection of specimens, tissues and trials on people with speech and hearing disabilities for better diagnosis.
How to Become a Speech therapist in India
Depending upon the area of interest, candidates can opt for a diploma programme or bachelor programme or post graduate programme for admission into various courses offered for speech therapy.
Many colleges offer admission to both UG and PG courses in speech therapy based on scores obtained in various entrance examinations namely NEET while few others have their own admission test for admission into such programmes. Here are some of the steps that the candidates must follow at the various level become a speech therapist in India
School Level Preparation
- At the school level the candidates must take up the science subjects at the 10+2 level and should have biology as a compulsory subject.
- The candidates should start preparing for the different entrance examinations. The preparation of the entrance examination should start from class 11 as the entrance exam syllabus contains the course from both class 11 and 12.
- Candidates must look to score well in the 12th level examination as most of the colleges require the candidates to have at least 55-60% marks in 12th or equivalent level examination.
Undergraduate Level Preparation
- The undergraduate level preparation starts with the candidates taking up the relevant courses according to their preferences.
- After selecting the specialization the candidates must take care of the facts that they at least maintain a first class or 60% in their graduate level so that they are able to get offers from top companies during the placement drive or interviews.
- In case of higher studies the candidates must also prepare for the entrance examination required for admission to the PG courses.
Postgraduate Level Preparation
- In case of the PG admission the candidates should graduate (minimum 3-4 years duration) in relevant discipline. Few institutes look for scores of entrance examination for admission in PG course
- The UG specialization must coincide with the undergraduate degree. The relevant undergraduate degrees are BSc in Audiology, BASLP, BSc in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, etc.
- Candidates who wish to enter the research field can start preparing for the PhD entrance examination.
Speech Therapy Courses
Speech therapy courses in India are offered at various levels that include diploma, undergraduate, post graduate and PhD level. The following are the list of top courses that can enable the students to become successful speech therapists in India.
MSc in Audio Speech Therapy
MSc in Audio Speech Therapy is a 2 year full time post graduate programme offered in few colleges in India aimed at differential diagnosis and differential management of auditory disorders.
| Program Level | Postgraduate |
| Program Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | BSc in speech and hearing (or) Bachelor of science [HLS] (or) BSLPA from a recognized University with a minimum of 50% marks |
| Admission | Merit/ Entrance Exam |
| Average course fee | INR 3,000 to INR 2,00,000 |
| Average salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Job Types | Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Consultant Speech Therapist |
MSc in Audio Speech Therapy Course Details
- MSc in Audio Speech Therapy course offers in depth knowledge of Speech Science and Production, Speech & Language Processing, Voice and Fluency Disorders, Language Acquisition and Language Disorders in children and adults, Auditory Physiology etc primarily focusing on advanced research on communication disorders.
- The admission to the course is done based on the entrance exam score or merit List.
Entrance examination eligibility Criteria
The following are the general eligibility criteria of the different entrance exam
- The candidates should have passed their graduate examination with at least 50-60% score in their graduate level entrance examination. The candidates belonging to the reserved categories are allowed a relaxation of 5%.
- The candidates in their final examination of their graduate course are also eligible to apply for the entrance exam.
Top Colleges for MSc in Audio Speech Therapy
| College Names | Admission Fees |
|---|---|
| National Institute of Speech & Hearing | INR 1,09,000 |
| Topiwala National Medical College | INR 65,500 |
| All India Institute of Speech and Hearing | INR 6,995 |
| Dr. S.R.Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing | INR 1,88,000 |
| Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research | INR 2,810 |
| Manipal College of Health Professions | INR 210,000 |
Other Relevant Speech Therapy courses in India
Few of the common courses in Speech Therapy include:
- D.H.L.S - Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech
- B.Sc. ASR - B.Sc Audiology & Speech Rehabilitation
- B.A.S.L.P - Bachelor in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology
- B.Sc - Speech & Hearing
- M.Sc - Speech & Hearing
- M.A.S.L.P - Master in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology
BASLP
- Bachelor in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology is a four year undergraduate degree programme aimed at providing necessary techniques and methods to diagnose and cure hearing, speech and balance related disorders found in certain individuals
- Some of the popular subjects taught during the span of these four years include Introduction to Speech and Language Pathology, Childhood Communication Disorders, Neuro-motor Speech Disorders etc.
- Admission BASLP is either based on merit or performance in entrance examinations conducted by various agencies or institutes.
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Course Duration | 4 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Successful completion of 12th standard with minimum 50% aggregate marks |
| Admission Process | Merit/ Entrance Exam |
| Course Fee | INR 1,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Salary in India | INR 4,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Job Positions | Clinical Audiologist, BASLP professor, Rehabilitation specialist |
BASLP Course Details
Few of the entrance examination conducted for admission into BASLP is listed below:
- The course can be pursued by candidates who have taken science in their 10+2 level exam. It can be taken by candidates belonging to both maths and biology groups.
- The overall duration of the course is 4 years, 3 years is expended on the theoretical subjects and 1 year is kept for the internship.
- Candidates after the comltion of the course can pursue MASLP course.
.Top Colleges for BASLP
| College Names | Admission Fees |
|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) | INR 1,028 |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) | INR 700 |
| Sri Ram Chandra Bhanj Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) | INR 60,000 |
| JSS Institute of Speech & Hearing | INR 7,928 |
| Kasturba Gandhi Medical College | INR 1,00,000 |
| Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH) | INR 18,667 |
| All India Institute & Special Hearing (AIISH) | INR 10,225 |
BSc in Audiology
- Bachelor of Science in Audiology is a 3 year undergraduate programme aimed at providing education on hearing problems and other associated sensory issues of the ears.
- Some of the popular subjects taught during the tenure of the course are Introduction to Audiology, Audiology, Speech Pathology, Introduction to Linguistics etc.
- Some colleges offer admission based on merit while other institutes offer admission based on scores secured in entrance examinations conducted by individual institutes.
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
| Admission Process | Merit based/ Entrance exam followed by an interview |
| Course Fee | INR 20,000 to 5,00,000 |
| Salary in India | INR 3,00,000 to 15,00,000 |
| Job Positions | Speech Pathologist & Audiologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Specialist, Speech Therapist |
BSc Audiology Course Details
The following points must be kept in mind while about the BSc audiology course
- The candidates must be from the science stream.
- Candidates after the completion of the BSc Audiology course would be eligible to study MSc Audiology courses.
Check Out
Top Colleges in BSc Audiology
| College Names | Admission Fees |
|---|---|
| AIISH, Mysore | INR 12,900 |
| Dr. S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore | INR 1,88,000 |
| PGIMER, Chandigarh | INR 6,035 |
| BVDU, Pune | INR 1,00,000 |
| NISH, Thiruvananthapuram | INR 28,947 |
Benefits of Becoming a Speech Therapist
- There are many avenues a candidate having a requisite degree in speech therapy can opt for after completing his/ her studies.
- As per report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics The demand for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is rising, with projected job growth at 21% through 2024.
- Most chosen profession of speech therapist is public schools, while graduates in audiology and speech language pathology work in ENT, pediatrics, neurology, rehabilitation medicine and various other departments of hospitals while post graduates opt for lectureship in medical colleges in diploma holders work as assistants of audiologists and speech language pathologists in special schools.Thus ,making the job one of the most secure profession in India with various option in different field..
- Those who prefer working independently either open their own clinic or own rehabilitation and private practice setups. Salaries of a fresh therapist working in hospitals or nursing homes may range from INR 2-3 lakhs per annum while for experienced ones it can shoot up to INR 10 lakhs per annum depending on experience.
- The working professionals are engaged with the betterment of the personal life of individuals by improving their speech and help them return to the mainstream of the society. Thus, the job description can help them to earn satisfaction
Top Recruiters for Speech Therapists
Speech Therapists generally get opportunities in Hospitals, clinics, special schools etc.
In India, few of the top recruiting companies are:
| National Health Mission | SCTIMST | Arumainathan Peter Manoharan (Proprietor Of Micro Hearing Aids) | New Horizons Child Development Centre |
| G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital | Pranaah Autism & Child Development Center Kollam | Denoc Hearing Care Centre | GS Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital |
Jobs for Speech Therapists
The following are the various live jobs for Speech therapists that are available in India now. The description of the jobs as well as the authorities that have advertised for the job has been mentioned.
| Job Position Available | Company | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Speech Therapist | Regional Centre-NILD, Aizawl | INR 360,000 |
| Speech Therapist | Indian Railway | - |
| Audiologist/ Speech Therapist | Bengal Speech and hearing Pvt Ltd | - |
| Speech and Language Therapist | Helen Speech And Hearing Centre | INR 300,000-INR 360,000 |
| Speech and Language Therapist | The Healer Foundation | INR 180,000-INR 480,000 |
| Speech Language Pathologist | Ashray Akruti | INR 336,000-INR 396,000 |
| Speech and Language Therapist | Lakshmy Philip's Speech and Hearing Centre | INR 180,000 |
| Speech Therapist | Life Centre For Autism & Child Development | INR 180,000-INR 240,000 |
Skills Required to Become a Speech Therapist
Some of the key skill sets that are essential to become a successful Speech Therapist are tabulated below for your reference,
| Interpersonal Skills | Excellent Communication Skills | Scientific Aptitude |
| Compassionate Nature | Keen Observation Skills | Team Work Skills |
Speech therapist salary in India
A fresher in the field of Speech Therapist gets compensation of approximately INR 2,00,000 per annum while a mid career speech therapist with 5-9 years of experience INR 5,00,000 per annum.
Job profile wise
| Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Speech Language Pathologist | INR 3,00,000 |
| Speech Pathologist | INR 2,76,000 |
| Travel Speech Language Pathologist | INR 2,10,000 |
| Clinical Pathologist | INR 6,12,000 |
| Occupational Therapist | INR 1,98,000 |
How to Become a Speech Therapist: FAQs
Ques. What are the diploma courses available in the field of therapy?
Ans. Few of the diploma programme offered in various institutions are listed below:
- Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech (DHLS)
- Diploma in Hearing Aid and Earmold Technology (DHAET)
- Post Graduate Certificate Course in Auditory Verbal Therapy (PGCAVT)
Ques. What are the various speech disorders a speech therapist needs to deal with during treatment?
Ans. Some of the commonly known speech disorders are listed below:
- Articulation disorders
- Fluency disorders
- Resonance disorders
- Receptive disorders
- Expressive disorders
- Cognitive-communication disorders
- Aphasia
- Dysarthria
Ques. What is a Resonance or voice disorder?
Ans. A resonance disorder primarily involves a problem with pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distracts listeners from what is being said.Primary cause of such disorder a blockage or obstruction of regular airflow in the nasal or oral cavities leading to variation in voice quality.
Ques. What are the various methodologies applied for treating patients with speech disorder?
Ans. The speech-language therapy applies the following methodologies in treating patients suffering from speech disorder either in a one to one session or dividing patients in small groups:
- Language intervention activities: This method involves interacting with children by playing and talking using pictures, books to improve language development.
- Articulation therapy: This method involves applying correct sounds and syllables in words and sentences during playing activities with children. Children are educated on how to make certain sounds and movement of tongue to make specific sounds.
- Oral-motor/feeding and swallowing therapy: This method involves various oral exercises consisting of facial massage, tongue, lip and jaw exercises to enhance eating, drinking and swallowing activities for patients suffering from such disorders. At times children suffering from such disorders are exposed to different food textures and temperatures to improve their eating and swallowing style.
Ques. Name few of the various subjects offered in B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing)?
Ans. Some of the popular subjects offered in a 3 year B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing) program are listed below:
- Human Anatomy
- Speech-Language Disorders
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Neuro-motor Speech Disorders in Adults
- Maxillofacial Anomalies
- Paediatric Audiology
- Voice and Laryngectomy
- Phonology
- Technology and Amplification Devices for patients
Ques. What is the application fee for All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Entrance Exam?
Ans. Candidates willing to pursue under graduate program in any of the speech therapy courses can opt for All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Entrance Exam and fill online application through the official website (https://cdn3.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/31136/70702/Registration.html) and pay application fee either through debit/ credit card or net banking which costs INR 500 for General Category candidates while for SC/ ST/ PwD/ OBC/Transgender candidates it costs INR 325.
Ques. List few of the disorders a child may suffer from and needs speech therapy?
Ans. Among a wide range of disorder a child can suffer from, few are listed below:
- Hearing impairments
- Cognitive (intellectual, thinking) or other developmental delays
- Cleft lip or cleft palate
- Autism
- Respiratory problems (breathing disorders)
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility criteria for admission into doctorate program in audiology and speech?
Ans. Candidates willing to pursue Ph.D. courses in audiology and speech must be post graduate in relevant fields with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks and must also have appropriate scores in the entrance examination either conducted by the institute or by some examination body.
Ques. What are the most popular books of speech therapy?
Ans. Few of the most popular books on Speech Therapy are listed below:
- Speech and Language Therapy (by Myra Kersner, Jannet A. Wright)
- An Advanced Review of Speech Speech-Language Pathology (by M.N. Hegde)
- Treating Phonological Disorders In Children 2e (by Howell & Dean)
- An early start for your child with Autism (by Rogers)
- Hereditary Hearing Loss and its Syndromes (by Teriello)
Ques. Discuss the exam pattern for of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Entrance Exam?
Ans. Exam Pattern of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Entrance Exam
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Duration for Undergraduates | 50 minutes |
| Exam Duration for Post Graduates | 90 minutes |
| Interview Marks | 100 marks |
| Number of Questions for Undergraduates | 50 objective questions |
| Number of Questions for Post Graduates | 100 objective questions |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Penality for Wrong Answers | There is no negative marking |
| Sections | Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Mathematics |
Ques. How much does it costs to pursue Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology from AIIMS, New Delhi?
Ans. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi offers Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at a meagre annual average fees of INR 1028 with excellent placement record offering INR 8,00,000 lakhs per annum on placement with reputed hospitals or corporate houses.
Ques. What are the possible causes of speech difficulties requiring speech therapy?
Ans. Though there may be many possible physical and Psychology Causes affecting communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults, few most common causes of disorder are listed below:
- Neurological disorders
- Brain injury
- Physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate
- Hearing loss
- Thinking or development disability
Ques. What are the diploma courses offered at Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) , Regional Centre Kolkata?
Ans. Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) , Regional Centre Kolkata offers diploma course in the following areas:
Diploma in Education Special Education (Hearing Impairment) D.Ed.Spl.Ed.(HI)
- Two years course
- Diploma in Sign Language Interpreter Course
- (DSLIC)
- Sign Language A /B/C Level
Ques. What are the job opportunities after completing in Diploma in Hearing Language and Speech?
Ans. Candidates completing one year Diploma in Hearing Language and Speech can work as Audiologist, Speech Therapist, Lecturer, Speech Language Pathologist etc.