How to become Speech Therapist? Speech Therapists courses, fees

Who needs speech therapy?  

Anyone with communication difficulties due to improper speech can benefit from speech therapy. An adult or child who has speaking difficulties should consult a speech therapist. However, it is beneficial if started early during the developmental phase of life.   

Once the communication difficulty is noted by parents or an individual, in the case of an adult, one should consult one’s healthcare provider. The healthcare provider would send you for an initial screening, like an audiogram, to detect if there is any hearing difficulty. If there is no hearing difficulty, you will be referred to the speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist to evaluate your speaking difficulties. 

What does the speech therapist do?  

The speech therapist will help you with your speech difficulties by increasing your ability to communicate with language. The approach of treatment will depend on your age, speech challenges, and health condition.  

Speech therapy is helpful in conditions like:  

1) Articulation disorder: Difficulty in speaking certain words and inability to produce certain sounds like “rain” and speaking it as “wain.” Speaking “thith” instead of “this”.  

2) Apraxia: Difficulty in forming words.  

3) Aphasia: This usually occurs after a brain injury or stroke. People with aphasia find it difficult to read, write, speak, and understand language. 

4) Dysarthria: Difficulty in the pace of your speech. It becomes slow or slurred. The muscles that control speech are affected by stroke, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic sclerosis, and other neurological conditions.  

5) Cognitive-communication disorders: The area of the brain that controls your thinking ability is damaged, making it difficult to speak and listen. One also has memory issues and difficulty solving problems.  

6) Receptive disorders: People having difficulty comprehending what others are saying is called receptive disorder. They have a limited vocabulary, have trouble following directions, or seem uninterested in conversations.   

7) Expressive disorders: People with expressive disorders may have difficulty conveying their thoughts. Expressive disorders can be caused due to stroke or other neurological events, developmental delays, and hearing loss.  

8) Fluency disorder: Stuttering in speech (speech is scattered and blocked) or cluttering in speech (speech is fast and merged) is a fluency disorder.  

The approach of treatment used by Speech Therapist: 

Understanding the Disorder – To understand the disorder therapist first identifies the patient’s speech problem and its cause, which could be due to medical conditions, injuries, or other factors. 

Building Communication—After identifying the problem, if speech is severely affected, the therapist introduces alternative ways to communicate, like sign language or gestures. 

Personalized Therapy—After communicating directly or alternatively, a custom treatment plan is formed based on the patient’s needs, using speech exercises, language activities, and swallowing techniques. 

Tracking Progress—Speech therapy is a time-consuming process. Speech therapists hold regular sessions to improve vocabulary, speech clarity, and social interaction and track progress. 

Using Technology – Speech therapists use apps and digital tools to help patients practice at home.  

How can you become a Speech Therapist?  

Speech Therapy Courses 

You can become a Speech therapist by pursuing a diploma, an undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD in speech and audiology. 

Diploma course: A diploma in speech therapy provides the basic knowledge and practical skills necessary for a career as an audiology and speech-language pathologist. It is a short-term program that is easy for entry-level roles in this field.  

Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor's degree in audiology and speech-language pathology is a step toward building a professional career in this field. These courses provides in-depth theoretical and practical hands-on training. It prepares students to diagnose and treat speech disorders related to patients. 

Master’s Degree: Masters programs in speech therapy and audiology offer advanced training for students looking for the specialization. These programs mainly focus on research, clinical practice, and advanced diagnostic techniques. 

PhD Programs: PhD in audiology and speech-language pathology program is for those professionals who want to contribute to research and innovation, advanced clinical practice, and academic contributions to speech and hearing sciences.  

Top Colleges to Pursue Speech Therapy Courses in India  

Job roles after the speech therapy Courses 

Pursuing courses in speech therapy opens doors for many job opportunities to work with people who have speech, language, and hearing problems. Based on their education and skills, professionals can find roles in hospitals, clinics, and schools, or even start their practice.  

• Audiologist  
• Speech-Language Pathologist  
• Consultant Speech Therapist  
• Clinical Audiologist  
• BASLP Professor  
• Rehabilitation Specialist  
• Speech Pathologist  
• Clinical Specialist  
• Speech Therapist 

The average salary of a Speech therapist in India  

Salaries in audiology and speech therapy depend on your education, experience, and job role. Higher qualifications lead to better salaries in hospitals, clinics, and research institutions. Below is a breakdown of average salaries by course level 

Future scope of career as Speech Therapist  

A career in speech and audio therapy offers job opportunities in healthcare, education, and private practice. With the growing demand for healthcare, these courses offer job security, professional growth, and job satisfaction.  

• High Demand: The field of speech therapy is in high demand due to awareness. Now, everyone wants clarity in their communication. Speech and language difficulties affect people of all ages. They require early treatment to improve their speaking.  
• High opportunities: These courses provided a wide range of Career Opportunities as they can work in Public Schools, Hospitals & Clinics, Special Schools & Rehabilitation Centers, Lectureship & Research, or Private Practice.  
• Financial growth: These courses provide Financial Growth and Stability for freshers, experienced, or private practitioners based on their skills, knowledge, and reputation.   
• Satisfaction: Apart from financial stability, speech therapy plays an important role in making a difference in people’s lives. They help individuals get their confidence by improving their communication and quality of life.   

To discover more such promising courses, visit Docthub.  

FAQs  

1. What does a speech therapist do? 

Speech therapists diagnose and treat speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages. 

2. What are the different types of speech therapy specializations?

Articulation Therapy – Corrects speech sound errors 

Fluency Therapy – Treats stuttering and cluttering 

Voice Therapy – Manages voice disorders 

Aphasia Therapy – Helps stroke/brain injury patients 

Swallowing Therapy – Addresses feeding/swallowing issues 

AAC Therapy – Supports non-verbal communication 

3. How long does it take to become a speech therapist?

Diploma – 1-2 years 

Bachelor’s Degree – 3-4 years 

Master’s Degree – 2 years 

PhD – 3-5 years (optional) 

4. Speech Therapist vs. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)? 

A speech therapist helps people with speech and language difficulties, like pronouncing words, stuttering, or understanding language. And speech-language pathologist (SLP) does everything a speech therapist does but also treats more complex issues like swallowing disorders, cognitive-communication problems, and voice disorders. 

5. Essential Skills for a Speech Therapist?

Strong communication & observation 

Patience & empathy 

Problem-solving & teamwork 

Scientific & analytical thinking