Unit Group
3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
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.
Example Titles
audiologist
certified audiologist
clinical audiologist
educational speech-language pathologist
research audiologist
speech therapist
speech-language clinician
View all titles
Main duties
Audiologists perform some or all of the following duties:
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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
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Plan and implement habilitation/rehabilitation programs for patients, including selection, fitting and adjustment of amplification devices, such as hearing aids, and teaching speech (lip) reading
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Provide information to patients and families regarding the nature, extent, impact and implications of hearing loss and treatment
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Establish personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
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Conduct research related to hearing and hearing disorders
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May instruct and supervise audiometric technicians, students and other health care personnel.
Speech-language pathologists perform some or all of the following duties:
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Administer tests and examinations and observe patients to diagnose and evaluate speech, voice, resonance, language, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
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Develop, plan and implement remedial programs to correct speech, voice, language, resonance, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
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Establish group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
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Provide advice and educational services to patients and families regarding communication and swallowing disorders
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Conduct research on speech and other communication disorders and on the development and design of diagnostic procedures and devices
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May instruct and supervise communicative disorders assistants, students and other health care personnel.
Employment requirements
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Audiologists require a master’s degree in audiology.
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Speech-language pathologists require a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
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Registration with a regulatory body is required for audiologists and speech-language pathologists in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
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Membership in the national association, Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, is usually required.
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In some jurisdictions, audiologists may be required to obtain a separate licence to dispense hearing aids.
Additional information
- Progression into management positions, such as chief audiologist or director of speech-language pathology, is possible with experience.
Classified elsewhere
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Audiology and speech-language technical and assisting occupations (in 3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment )
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Braille, lip-reading and sign language instructors (in 4215 Instructors of persons with disabilities )
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Managers in health care (0311)
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Phoniatricians (in 3111 Specialist physicians )
