Who is a speech therapist and what do they do? The speech therapist works in the field of prevention and rehabilitation with regard to language and communication disorders in children, adults and the elderly.
What are the activities of the speech therapist job? Training or re-training those whose ailments cause voice and speech disorders, oral and written language difficulties, and communicative disabilities. He/she may work with children who show signs of slow development in language skills, or have specific speech defects, or with adults and the elderly who, following an illness or traumatic event e.g. cancer of the larynx, or a stroke, are no longer able to express themselves through speech or writing, or understand the speech and writing of others.
Based on diagnosis and direction from a medical practitioner, the speech therapist, acting as part of a team with other specialists, develops and assesses appropriate therapies for overcoming communication and speech problems. Independently, he/she practises therapies for the effective rehabilitation of those with communicative and cognitive disabilities. He/she recommends the use of aids, such as computers, cameras, hearing aids etc, trains patients in their use and evaluates their efficacy.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In health care facilities, both public and private, either on an employed or self-employed basis. The hours are entirely dependent on the type of facility in which one works.
What tools/equipment do they use? Various aids, computers, cameras, hearing aids etc. which they may teach the patients to use, patient records.