Awareness and Knowledge of Audiologists Regarding Benefits of Speech-Language Therapy for Hearing Impaired Individuals
JRCRS. 2019; 7(2):47-53. DOI: 10.5455/JRCRS.2019070203
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the knowledge and awareness of audiologists regarding the benefits of speech-language therapy for hearing impaired individuals.
Methodology: Cross-sectional Survey study was conducted at the Department of Speech Language Pathology, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Lahore, from October 2014 to April 2015. It was a cross-sectional survey through a questionnaire (developed by literature review and experts opinion), including two aspects: knowledge and awareness of audiologists regarding the benefits of speech language therapy for hearing impaired individuals. The target population was the male and female qualified Audiologists working with hearing impaired individuals in the tertiary care units and private clinics of Lahore, Pakistan. The questionnaire was circulated to 63 Audiologists of Lahore, and a total of 60 Audiologists responded back. The response rate was 95.2 %. The data was statistically analyzed through SPSS-16.
Results: There is significant knowledge and awareness of audiologists regarding benefits of speech-language therapy for hearing impaired individuals.
There is a strong correlation between audiologists’ Understanding Regarding General Speech Therapy (URGST) and their awareness about the benefits of speech therapy for hearing impaired (ASTHI).
There was no significant effect found in (Private, Public and Both) nature of clinic (unidisciplinary, multidisciplinary) on Understanding Regarding General Speech Therapy (URGST) and Awareness about benefits of Speech Therapy for Hearing Impaired (ASTHI) in audiologists.
Conclusion: It is concluded that there was a strong correlation between audiologists’ Understanding Regarding General Speech Therapy (URGST) and Awareness about benefits of Speech Therapy for Hearing Impaired (ASTHI).
Keywords: Hearing Impairment, Audiologist, Speech Therapy, understanding regarding general speech therapy (URGST), Awareness about benefits of Speech Therapy for Hearing Impaired (ASTHI)
