3141- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

Canada NOC: 
3141
Job Title: 

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

Job Description: 

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 and speech-language pathologists are employed in hospitals, community and public health centres, extended care facilities, day clinics, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions, or may work in private practice. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Main Duties: 

Audiologists perform some or all of the following duties:


Develop and administer audiometric tests and examinations using specialized instruments and electronic equipment to diagnose and evaluate the degree and type of patients' hearing impairment
Plan and implement habilitation/rehabilitation programs for patients, including selection, fitting and adjustment of amplification devices, such as hearing aids, balance retraining exercises and teaching speech (lip) reading
Educate and counsel 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
May instruct and supervise audiometric technicians, students and other health care personnel.
Speech-language pathologists perform some or all of the following duties:


Administer tests and examinations and observe patients to diagnose and evaluate speech, voice, resonance, language, fluency, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
Develop, plan and implement remedial programs to correct speech, voice, language, fluency, resonance, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
Establish group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
Educate and counsel patients and families regarding communication and swallowing disorders
Conduct research on speech and other communication disorders and on the development and design of diagnostic procedures and devices
May instruct and supervise communicative disorders assistants, students and other health care personnel.

Employment Requirements: 

Audiologists require a master's degree in audiology.
Speech-language pathologists require a master's degree in speech-language pathology.
Registration with a regulatory body is required for audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Membership in the national association, Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, is usually required.
In some jurisdictions, audiologists may be required to obtain a separate licence to dispense hearing aids.

Additional Inormation: 

Progression into management positions, such as chief audiologist or director of speech-language pathology, is possible with experience.

Classified Elsewhere: 

Audiology and speech-language technical and assisting occupations (in 3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
Braille, lip-reading and sign language instructors (in 4215 Instructors of persons with disabilities)
Managers in health care (0311)
Phoniatricians (in 3111 Specialist physicians)

Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X