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.