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Audiologists and speech-language pathologists – NOC : 3141

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:
  • 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, and teaching speech (lip) reading
  • Provide information to 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, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
  • Develop, plan and implement remedial programs to correct speech, voice, language, resonance, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
  • Establish group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
  • Provide advice and educational services to 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 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 information
  • 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 )