Speech Language Pathology is a study of disorders in speech and languages and the field was earlier referred to as speech and hearing. Candidates who have completed their Bachelor of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology are called as speech language pathologists and speech therapists and they diagnose, assess, treat and helping in preventing fluency, swallowing, voice, communication, cognitive, language, speech and related disorders.

The duration of Bachelor of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology course shortly called as BASLP is four years and this course is offered by a few government-run institutions in India, whose names are given below:

• Ali Yavur Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped

• All India Institute of Speech & Hearing

Eligibility requirement:

For getting into the BASLP Course, candidates must have completed their pre-university or higher secondary examination from the recognized board of education and must have obtained not less than 50% of marks in PCMB Group. In addition, candidates must have completed 21 years of age in the year in which he/she is seeking admission.

Admission Procedure:

Admission of students to the BASLP course to the above-mentioned institutions is done based on the performance of the students in the All India level entrance examination.

Subjects covered under BASLP Course:

Some of the subjects covered in most of the institutions under the BASLP course are:

• Educational audiology

• Psychology related to speech and hearing

• Basic acoustics & electronics

• Introduction to audiology

• Introduction to speech and language pathology

• Articulation and phonological disorders

• Pediatric audiology

• Adult neuro communication disorders

• Noise measurement and hearing conservation

• Neuro-motor speech disorders

• Rehabilitative audiology

Higher studies after BASLP:

After completion of the BASLP course, candidates can go for the following courses:

• Master of Speech Language Pathology course

• Master of Science in Speech, Pathology & Audiology

• PG Diploma in Clinical Linguistics for SLP

• Master of Special Education

• PG Diploma in Forensic Speech Sciences & Technology

• Master of Science in Audiology

• Post Graduate Diploma in Neuro Audiology

They can further do their Ph. D in the same field of education.

What does BASLP graduates do?

Speech language pathologists use oral and written test and special instruments as well for diagnosing the nature and extent of impairment in a patient and they also judge the swallowing, language and speech irregularities. After assessment of the patients, they develop tailored plans to meet the need of an individual patient with speech or hearing disorder.

Career prospects after BASLP:

Speech Language Pathologist and audiologists work closely with rehabilitation counselors, social workers, psychologists, physicians, teachers and member of other interdisciplinary teams and in most of the cases they do not work under direct medical supervision. They can find job opportunities in the number of facilities like industries, research laboratories, centres for developmentally disables, adult day-care centres, home care, local and state health departments, private practice offices, clinics, nursing care facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and even public and private schools. They can also become teachers for hearing impaired or people with speech disorders by completing their B. Ed in special education after completion of the BASLP Course.