What Would I Do?
Audiologists diagnose, evaluate and treat individuals with peripheral and central hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems.
Speech-language pathologists diagnose, assess and treat human communication disorders including speech, fluency, language, voice and swallowing disorders.
Audiologists’ duties may include:
- use sophisticated equipment to measure hearing loss and select, fit and dispense hearing aids for patients
- educate interested groups and professionals on hearing loss prevention, developing and administering hearing screening tests for schools and industries, and promoting community noise reduction
- provide information to patients and families regarding the nature, extent, impact and implications of hearing loss and treatment
- establish personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
- Conduct research related to hearing and hearing disorders
Speech language pathologists’ duties may include:
- administer tests and examinations and observe patients to diagnose and evaluate speech, voice, resonance, language, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
- may use tools that range from books and toys, to linguistic analysis software, sophisticated sound analysers and electronic communication devices
- develop, plan and implement remedial programs to correct speech, voice, language, resonance, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
- establish group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
- provide advice and educational services to patients and families regarding communication and swallowing disorders
