Audiology and Speech Pathology ***Major Not Available at UNA***
What can I do with this major?
Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-language pathologists assess and treat patients who have speech, language, voice, fluency, or oral motor disorders. They also assist people who wish to improve their communication skills through changes in vocal pitch, quality, or accent. Speech-language pathologists utilize special instruments and tests to develop individualized treatment plans for patients.
Area
- Prevention
- Screening
- Assessment
- Treatment
- Behavioral Modification
- Follow-up
- Administration
- Consultation
- Supervision
- Teaching
- Research
Employer
- Schools, K-12
- Universities and colleges
- Hospitals
- Physicians' offices
- Speech, language, and hearing centers
- Home healthcare offices
- Nursing homes
- Residential facilities
- Federal agencies including:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- National Institutes of Health
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Education
- Armed Services
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Private individual or group practice
- Public health departments
- Rehabilitation centers
Information / Strategies
- A master's degree from an accredited speech-language pathology program is required to enter the field.
- Forty-seven states require licensure or certification of speech pathologists and forty-one states require continuing education.
- Obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- A passing score on the national examination and post-graduate supervised clinical experience are required for certification.
- Some states may require additional certification to work with special education populations in public schools.
- Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurers require a practitioner to be licensed for reimbursement of fees.
- Approximately one half of speech-language pathologists work in schools and another half are employed in healthcare institutions.
- A doctorate is required for university teaching and research positions.
- Speech pathologists may work closely with physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
- Supplement coursework with classes in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and personal communication.
- Maintain a high grade point average and seek related experiences to be competitive for graduate school.
Audiology
Audiologists identify, diagnosis, and treat people experiencing disorders associated with the ear and hearing. These disorders may include hearing loss or balance problems. Audiologists utilize technical equipment such as audiometers and computers to assess a patient's impairment and to plan a course of treatment. Audiologists are concerned with the nature and extent of hearing loss and how this may impact a client's quality of life.
Area
- Prevention
- Screening
- Diagnosis
- Assessment
- Treatment Including:
- Dispense Hearing Aids
- Fit and Program Cochlear Implants
- Follow-up
- Administration
- Supervision
- Teaching
- Research and Development
Employer
- Schools, K-12
- Universities and colleges
- Hospitals
- Physicians' offices
- Speech, language, and hearing centers
- Private individual or group practice
- Home healthcare offices
- Nursing homes
- Residential facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Federal agencies including:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- National Institutes of Health
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Education
- Armed Services
- Public health departments
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Health and personal care stores (hearing aid stores)
- Hearing manufacturing industry
Information / Strategies
- Most states require a Master's degree in audiology to be eligible for licensure. Eight states require a doctoral degree.
- Doctoral degrees are becoming more crucial for clinical practice opportunities.
- All fifty states require licensure or certification of audiologists to practice. Forty-one states require continuing education.
- Most insurance companies require licensure for reimbursement of fees.
- Twenty states require audiologists to have a Hearing Aid Dispenser license to dispense those devices. The other states accept an audiologist license.
- Obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- Certification is also offered through the Board of Audiology.
- A passing score on the national examination and post-graduate supervised clinical experience are required for certification.
- Doctoral degree required for university teaching and research positions.
- Supplement coursework with classes in science, math, physics, genetics, and normal and abnormal communication development.
- Learn to work well on a team as most audiologists collaborate with physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
General Information and Strategies
- Join the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association while in school.
- Volunteer in a healthcare setting to gain experience working with people in all age groups.
- Display a desire to help and work with people who have disabilities.
- Patience is necessary as rehabilitation may progress slowly.
- Develop excellent communication and computer skills.
- Learn about communication among various cultures.
- Earn excellent grades and obtain strong recommendations for graduate school admission.
- Attend one of 230 universities accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.