Occupation: 252712 – Speech Pathologist
(Speech Therapist)
Assesses and treats people with communication disorders, such as speech, language, voice, fluency and literacy difficulties, and people who have physical problems with eating or swallowing. Registration or licensing is required.
Skill Level:
The entry requirement for this occupation is a bachelor degree or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).
Tasks Include:
- administering and interpreting a wide range of audiometric tests to determine hearing efficiency and locate sites of detected hearing problems
- interpreting audiometric test results alongside other medical, social and behavioural diagnostic data
- evaluating total response pattern and acoustic tests to distinguish between organic and non-organic hearing loss
- planning, directing and participating in counselling, speech reading and other rehabilitation programs
- prescribing appropriate hearing aids and instructing patients in use
- administering tests and observing patients to determine nature and extent of disorders
- planning and conducting programs of remedial exercise to correct disorders such as stuttering and abnormal articulation
- administering industry and group therapy for rehabilitation of patients with communication problems caused by defective hearing, cerebral palsy, surgery and injury
- advising on treatment for children with difficulties in learning to speak
- counselling and guiding language-handicapped individuals, their families, teachers and employers
