SPEECH & HEARING
Activities of the Department of Speech & Hearing
The major objectives of the Speech & Hearing Department are to impart professional
training, render clinical services, conduct research and educate the public on issues
related to communication & hearing disorders such as hearing impairment, mental
retardation, voice, and fluency and phonological and language disorders.
Department of Speech & Hearing serve a diverse population and may function in one
or more of a variety of activities. The practice of audiology and Speech Lg. Pathology
includes :
A. Prevention
1. Promotion of hearing & speech wellness, as well as the prevention of hearing
loss and protection of hearing function by designing, implementing, and coordinating
occupational, school, and community hearing conservation and identification/awareness
programs.
2. Prevention of speech and language disorders by coordinating in schools, community
and identification/awareness programs.
B. Identification
1. Activities that identify dysfunction in speech, hearing, balance, and other auditory-related
systems;
2. Supervision, implementation, and follow-up of newborn and school hearing screening
programs;
3. Screening for speech, language, cognitive communication disorders, and/or preferred
communication modalities that may affect education, health, development or communication
and may result in recommendations for rescreening or comprehensive speech-language
pathology assessment or in referral for other examinations or services;
4. Identification of populations and individuals with or at risk for hearing & speech
loss and other auditory dysfunction, balance impairments, tinnitus, and associated
communication impairments as well as of those with normal hearing;
C. Assessment
1. The conduct and interpretation of behavioral, methods to assess hearing, speech
and language, auditory function, balance, and related systems
2. Evaluation and management of children and adults with speech and auditory-related
processing disorders;
3. Performance of otoscopy for appropriate audiological management or to provide
a basis for medical referral;
4. Preparation of a report including interpreting data, summarizing findings, generating
recommendations and developing an audiologic treatment/management plan;
5. Referrals to other professions, agencies and organizations.
D. Rehabilitation
1. As part of the comprehensive audiologic (re)habilitation program, evaluates,
selects, fits and dispenses hearing assistive technology devices to include hearing
aids.
2. Assessment and speech rehabilitation of persons with speech, language problem
for proper management/rehabilitation. 3. Assessment of candidacy of persons with
hearing loss for cochlear implants.
4. Development of a culturally appropriate, audiologic rehabilitative management
plan including, when appropriate:
A. Recommendations for fitting and dispensing, and educating the consumer and family/caregivers
in the use of and adjustment to sensory aids, hearing assistive devices, alerting
systems, and captioning devices;
B. Availability of counseling relating to psycho social aspects of hearing loss,
and other auditory dysfunction, and processes to enhance communication competence;
C. Skills training and consultation concerning environmental modifications to facilitate
development of receptive and expressive communication;
D. Evaluation and modification of the audiologic management plan.
5. Assessment and non-medical management of tinnitus using biofeedback, behavioral
management, masking, hearing aids, education, and counseling;
6. Provision of training for professionals of related and/or allied services when
needed;
7. Management of the selection, purchase, and evaluation of amplification devices.
E. Advocacy/ Consultation
1. Advocacy for communication needs of all individuals that may include advocating
for the rights/funding of services for those with hearing loss, auditory, or vestibular
disorders;
2. Advocacy for issues (i.e., acoustic accessibility) that affect the rights of
individuals with normal hearing; 3. Consultation with professionals of related and/or
allied services when needed;
4. Consultation to educators as members of interdisciplinary teams about communication
management, educational implications of hearing loss and other auditory dysfunction,
educational programming, classroom acoustics, and large-area amplification systems
for children with hearing loss and other auditory dysfunction;
5. Consultation to individuals, public and private agencies, and governmental bodies,
or as an expert witness regarding legal interpretations of audiology findings, effects
of hearing loss and other auditory dysfunction, balance system impairments, and
relevant noise-related considerations;
F. Education/ Research/Administration
1. CRC Patna is running DHLS course in Disability and rehabilitation field like
DHLS since Academic session 2010-11 onwards.
2. Education, supervision, and administration for audiology in diploma students
and other professional education programs; 3. CRE Programme organised by CRC, Design
and conduct of basic and applied audiologic research to increase the knowledge base,
to develop new methods and programs, and to determine the efficacy, effectiveness,
and efficiency of assessment and treatment paradigms; disseminate research findings
to other professionals and to the public.
4. Participation in the development of professional and technical standards.
5. Participation in quality improvement programs.
6. Program administration and supervision of DHLS/DRT students/professionals as
well as support personnel.
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