Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Profession: Audiology & Speech Language Pathology
From the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
Audiology:
Hearing and balance disorders can be assessed, treated, and rehabilitated by an audiologist. Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages.
Hearing and balance disorders are complex with medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and employment implications. Treatment services require audiologists to have knowledge of existing and emerging technologies, as well as interpersonal skills to counsel and guide patients and their family members through the rehabilitative process. Audiologists provide professional and personalized services to minimize the negative impact of these disorders, leading to improved outcomes and quality of life.
Want to learn more? Watch this video to hear from an audiologist in private practice:
Speech Language Pathology:
Speech-language pathology is the study and treatment of human communication and its disorders. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
- Speech disorders occur when a person has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently or has problems with his or her voice or resonance.
- Language disorders occur when a person has trouble understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language).
- Social communication disorders occur when a person has trouble with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Cognitive-communication disorders include problems organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving.
- Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are feeding and swallowing difficulties, which may follow an illness, surgery, stroke, or injury.
Want to learn more? Watch this video to hear from a speech language pathologist in a rehabilitation hospital:
Explore Audiology and Speech Language Pathology:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: http://bit.ly/2Am0O98
- PHMO Website - Explore: http://prehealth.emory.edu/explore/more-healthcare-careers.html
- Explore Health Careers (SLP): http://bit.ly/2jekQza
- Explore Health Careers (Audiology): http://bit.ly/2hUZIKw