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Who is a Speech Therapist?
Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
In career as speech therapists, individuals are medical professionals who provide treatment through speech therapies to individuals with speech disorders. Have you experienced issues in your speech or with someone close to you? There are several kids having a delay in their speech. While there are also other individuals who fail to pronounce or speak efficiently. They might be suffering from delayed speech or stammering. An individual must pursue an Audiology and Speech course in order to make a career as a speech therapist. Completing 10+2 in Science, with Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics is the basic requirement. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a speech therapist in India, speech therapist course in India, speech pathologist colleges, what does a speech pathologist do.
Speech Therapist in a Nutshell
Are you searching for a speech therapist job description? Individuals who opt for a career as a speech therapist are professionals who provide support to individuals having speech and language problems that directly affect the continuity or fluency of sharing verbal information while speaking. In career as speech therapist, individuals treat people having speech disorders.
Quick Facts for Speech Therapist
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹44726
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as speech therapist is suitable for everyone regardless of gender identity. Whether a person is male, female or belongs to any other gender can opt for this career.
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Any special needs
Yes
A career as speech therapist is not suitable for individuals with special needs. Career demands fluency in communication skills and providing treatment to individuals with speech disorders.
Table of Contents for Speech Therapist
What is the role of Speech Therapist?
Speech therapy in India comes with various job responsibilities. It involves providing training to individuals with speech disorders. He or she provides screening, consultation, diagnosis, assessment, treatment, management and other counselling services. In career as speech therapist, individuals provide support in improving overall communication and enhancing social skills. Students can pursue a speech therapist course in India, such as B.ASLP (Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology), M.ASLP (Master in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology) to become a speech and language therapist. Individuals who have developed speech disorders due to trauma or injuries as well as kids with speech delay or other relevant issues are required to visit a speech therapist.
Language Intervention Activities
A speech therapist's daily job routine involves talking to children with speech disorders through pictures, books, or other objects to stimulate language development. He or she may use repetitive exercises to build language skills.
Articulation Therapy
Articulation therapy is also known as sound production therapy. A speech therapist model corrects sounds and syllables in a word or sentences during play activities. The games are determined by the age of the child so that it fulfil the specific requirements.
Oral Motor/ Feeding and Swallowing Therapy
It involves a variety of facial exercises along with facial massage, tongue, lip and jaw exercises. It is done to strengthen the muscles of the mouth to eat, drink and swallow.
What is the workplace/work environment of Speech Therapist like?
A speech therapist workplace may vary. He or she finds employment opportunities in public schools, rehabilitation centres, healthcare facilities, NGOs, hospitals and other settings. An experienced speech therapist may work independently in his or her own private setting. Individuals who opt for a career as a speech therapist provide treatment to children, adults and elders with a range of speech disorders such as cleft palate, language delay, voice disorders and stuttering issues.
Does Speech Therapist require travelling?
Likely
A speech therapist may occasionally require travel. The travel needs depend on the requirements of clients. There are also travelling speech therapists who work with multiple institutions to provide their services and hence require travelling.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
A speech therapist may work full-time in a rehabilitation centre or hospital. He or she may also provide services on an hourly basis in private practice.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
In career as speech therapist, individuals find employment opportunities on both contractual as well as permanent basis. There are several rehabilitation centres and NGOs which preferably hire speech therapists on a contractual basis. One can find full-time opportunities in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Work Place
NGOs, Public Schools, special schools, hospitals, Rehabilitation Centres
A career as speech therapist comes with a variety of workplaces. One can find opportunities in hospitals, schools, healthcare and rehabilitation centres, NGOs and government settings.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
People are more aware of speech disorders and their treatment in urban and semi-urban areas. People can easily reach out to speech therapists in urban areas as there are more developed healthcare facilities rather than in rural areas.
Time Pressure
Likely
In career as speech therapist, individuals work under frequent time pressure to determine the activities and exercise for the treatment. He or she has to record the progress and plan play activities for children accordingly to make them learn the pronunciation of words with the correct sound.
Overtime Details
Individuals who opt for a career as a speech therapist may often be required to work extended hours due to work pressure and the treatment of a number of patients.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 35 Hours
Individuals who opt for a career as a speech therapist works an average of 38 hours per week. His or her work hours may also be extended depending on several circumstances.
How to become a Speech Therapist?
Steps to become a Speech Therapist
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Speech Therapist?
You must be wondering that how to become a speech therapist in India? So, in this section, we will be answering the most commonly asked question that how to become a speech therapist. In order to make a career as speech therapist one must possess some skills. Some skills required by a speech therapist are mentioned below:
Communication Skills: A speech therapist daily job routine involves communicating with people with speech disorders, kids and their families to make them understand the speech disorder, possible cause and the treatment that involves various therapies and exercises.
Organising Skills: In career as speech therapist, individuals have to plan activities for each kid to improve his or her speech with various exercises. He or she has to keep a record of improvements and consult kids’ families to make him or her practice exercising at home as well for early results. Being organised to avoid mismanagement is essential for the speech therapist role.
Problem Solving Skills: Problem-solving skills are crucial for the role of the speech therapist. He or she has to identify the speech disorder and its cause and then plan exercises accordingly. A speech therapist must have alternative solutions as various activities planned in the treatment to enhance the communication skills of individuals with speech disorders.
Patience: Individuals who opt for a career as a speech therapist demands patience. Improvements in communication or speech do not show up instantly or in a few days. It might take months for improvements in the speech of individuals. It needs proper training with hours of exercise every day planned effectively by a speech therapist.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Speech Therapist?
Internship Availability
Aspiring individuals may find organisations who require speech interns through naukri.com, monster, LinkedIn, Lets Intern, Internshala and other such platforms. A speech therapist intern is usually provided with several responsibilities which include providing assistance to remedial educators. A speech therapist intern assists children with speech therapy and coordinates with the counselling team.
Career Path Progression for Speech Therapist
We have mentioned below details of speech therapist jobs with varying roles and responsibilities.
Junior Speech Therapist: Working experience of a speech therapist intern is usually 1 to 4 years. He or she is generally responsible for teaching the pronunciation of several alphabets or words to children by helping them with facial exercises.
Senior Speech Therapist: A senior speech therapist generally possesses a work experience of more than 10 years. He or she is responsible for treating individuals with speech disorders.
Speech Therapist Jobs and Salaries
Junior Speech Therapist
Contractual/Permanent
- Average Salary 16452
Job Description
A junior speech therapist is responsible for providing treatment to children with speech disorders. He or she corrects sounds and syllables in a word or sentence with various play activities and therapies.
Salary Description
A junior therapist earns an average annual salary of Rs. 197,420, according to payscale.com.
Senior Speech Therapist
Contractual/Permanent
- Average Salary 73000
Job Description
A senior speech therapist applies various therapies such as articulation therapy, facial massage or language intervention activities to help people with difficulty in speaking or forming words.
Salary Description
A senior therapist earns an average annual salary of Rs. 876,000 per month, according to salaryexplorer.com.
What is the job outlook for Speech Therapist?
There are numerous opportunities for speech therapy in India. As people are getting more aware of speech disorders and their treatment, it significantly results in a higher demand for speech therapists. In career as speech therapists, individuals are employed by various institutions such as public schools, healthcare facilities, NGOs, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers as well as private practices.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Speech Therapist
Que. What is the average salary of speech therapists?
Ans.The average salary of speech therapists is Rs. 298400 per annum, according to payscale.com.
Que. What are top speech therapist colleges?
Ans.Top speech therapist colleges are:
Que. What are top speech therapist employers?
Ans.Top speech therapist employers are:
| Special Education Institutes | Hospitals |
| Healthcare Facilities | Rehabilitation Centres |
| Non-Government Organisations | Nursing Homes |
Que. What is the average fee of BASLP?
Ans.The average fee of BASLP ( Bachelor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology) ranges Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 400,000.
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Human use 26 sets of muscles during swallowing.
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