National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
Introduction

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.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • audiologist
    • certified audiologist
    • clinical audiologist
    • educational speech-language pathologist
    • research audiologist
    • speech therapist
    • speech-language clinician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Audiology and speech-language technical and assisting occupations (See 3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
    • Braille, lip-reading and sign language instructors (See 4215 Instructors of persons with disabilities)
    • Managers in health care (0311)
    • Phoniatricians (See 3111 Specialist physicians)

  • 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.
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