Overview

Welcome to the Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology. The department was established on 20th June 2018 under the faculty of Allied health and Basic Sciences, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research. The objective of the department is to provide professional training and clinical services of the highest standard. The field of speech and hearing is concerned with the diagnosis and management of communication disorders.

Speech-language Pathologists cater to persons with disorders such as delay in language development, autism, cognitive-communication disorders, stuttering, cleft lip and palate, voice and swallowing disorders, among others. Audiologists attend to persons with hearing impairment, tinnitus, disorders of balance, and related issues.

The incidence of communication disorders in the country is estimated to be about 2.6%. It puts a huge burden on the family. Many of these problems are preventable or can be addressed effectively if identified early. Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research has established a new Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. It is hoped that those affected with speech and hearing disorders in and around Kolar will avail our clinical services. The department would be offering many innovative clinical programs encompassing the state of technology for the benefit of our population.

In addition, generating manpower to carry out clinical training is also very important. At present, students from Kolar and neighboring districts have to go to Bangalore and other cities to get trained at a considerable cost which most of them can’t afford. The academy has initiated the undergraduate program – Bachelors of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology from the academic year (2020-2021) for the benefit of students from this region.

HOD’s note
Warm greetings to all.

The Academy established the department of Speech Pathology and Audiology under the Faculty of Allied Health and Basic Sciences on 25 June 2018. The department offers clinical services to those with speech and hearing problems, runs training programs in the area (B.ASLP, Ph.D.), and conducts research in the area apart from community-oriented activities. However, academic and research programs in the area would also be major activities of the department.

Speech and hearing is a branch of science that deals with the assessment, diagnosis, and management of communication disorders. The spectrum of the field is very broad indeed. We have to integrate information from medical sciences at one end of the spectrum (neurology, pediatrics, otolaryngology, psychiatry, anatomy, physiology, etc) and social sciences like psychology, linguistics at the other end of the spectrum. In between, we also need information from physical sciences like electronics, acoustics, physics, and computer sciences for a proper understanding. Thus, a study of this field is a challenge as well as a creative activity.

There were no facilities at Kolar and surrounding areas for clinical services in the area of speech and hearing. People had to go to Bangalore or Mysore to avail these services. Speech-language therapy being long-term, not many people could afford these services on a sustainable basis. Responding to this need, the Devaraj Urs Academy started this department with state-of-the-art infrastructure to cater to the needs of our people. Having an understanding of the economic status of our people, the Academy provides all its services at very reasonable rates. Our motto is to serve people. One of our goals is to be part of the world community of experts in the area by virtue of the standard of our work. We count on you to achieve this.

Regards
Dr. M Jayaram

Vision

The vision is to be a part of the world body of experts in the field and shape programs and policies relating to speech and hearing in the country.

Mission

• Establish state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for persons with speech-language and hearing disorders
• Establish training facilities to contribute manpower in the field of speech and hearing
• Create a state of the art scientific infrastructure and promote interdisciplinary research in the area of speech and hearing
• Understand and integrate the physical, physiological, psycho-social, behavioral and metaphysical aspects of the entities of speech, language, and hearing
• Evolve guidelines and policy framework for national programs in the area of speech and hearing
• Promote literacy, educate public and NGOs on the medical and social aspects of disability
• Encourage the public on the virtues of advocacy groups.

Objectives

• Establish state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for persons with speech-language and hearing disorders
• Establish training facilities to contribute manpower in the field of speech and hearing
• Understand and integrate the physical, physiological, psycho-social, behavioral and metaphysical aspects of the entities of speech, language, and hearing
• Create a state of the art scientific infrastructure and promote interdisciplinary research in the area of speech and hearing.
• Encourage the public on the virtues of advocacy groups.
• Promote literacy, educate public and NGOs on the medical and social aspects of disability.
• Evolve guidelines and policy framework for national programs in the area of speech and hearing

Key Features

Collaborative activitiesNew born Hearing Screening (AIISH- SDUAHER project)SDUAHER has been awarded with a project on New-born screening from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, an Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. An Audiologist Grade-I has been deputed to carry out hearing screening for all the babies born at the hospital. This program will gradually be extended to SNR, Kolar.

Neurogenic Communication Disorders Clinic

The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has established a special clinic – Neurogenic Communication Disorders Clinic – at the Department of General Medicine to provide much needed clinical services in the domain of communication disorders for people who suffer from stroke, or who experience head injury or other neurological diseases.

Programs

Bachelor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (B.ASLP)
The candidates applying for admission to B.ASLP program should have passed 10+2 examination of the Pre university Board of Education of the State of Karnataka or any other equivalent examination conducted by institutions established by state/central government securing a minimum of 50% marks. Relaxation in the qualifying marks shall be as per rules and regulations of the state of Karnataka or Central government. The applicant/candidate should have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and any one of Mathematics / Computer Science / Statistics / Electronics / Psychology in their qualifying examinations.
Eligibility Criteria
A 4-year B.ASLP (Bachelor of Audiology Speech Language Pathology is a multidisciplinary one focussing on core subjects of Speech pathology, Language pathology and Audiology. A number of allied subjects are also taught linguistics, electronics, acoustics, psychology and statistics. The program also focuses on a number of basic and clinical medical subjects like anatomy, physiology, pathology otolaryngology, neurology and paediatrics that provide a foundation for understanding the bases of speech, language and hearing processes. This is a graduate level course supported by classroom lectures, demonstrations, seminars, workshops, journal clubs and clinical conferences. The program consists of 3 years of both theoretical and clinical work followed by one year of clinical internship. The clinical internship is exclusively for clinical work at the parent as well as other national institutions candidates.

PhD (Audiology)
The duration of the program is 3 years for full-time candidates and 5 years for in-service candidates.
Eligibility Criteria M.Sc. in Audiology from any University recognized by RCI / SDUAHER with a minimum of 55% in the qualifying program, OR M.Sc. (Sp. & Hg) / MASLP with a minimum of 60% in the qualifying examination.
Candidates must pass with a percentage of 50% in the entrance examination conducted by the Academy.


PhD (Speech-Language Pathology)
The duration of the program is 3 years for full-time candidates and 5 years for in-service candidates.
Eligibility Criteria 
M.Sc. in Speech-Language Pathology from any University recognized by RCI / SDUAHER with a minimum of 55% in the qualifying program, OR M.Sc. (Sp. & Hg) / MASLP with a minimum of 60% in the qualifying examination.
Candidates must pass with a percentage of 50% in the entrance examination conducted by the Academy.

Facilities

Audiology
The audiology unit at the department is actively involved in the identification, assessment, and management of individuals with hearing and balance disorders. The department is well served with the latest technology.
The department caters to people of all ages. Assessment of hearing is carried out through the following specialized tests

• Pure tone audiometry
• Conditioned Play audiometry/ Visual Re-inforcement Audiometry
• Speech audiometry
• Tympanometry
• Newborn hearing screening
• Tinnitus evaluation
• Brainstem Evoked Auditory Response(BERA)
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
• Vertigo and Balance testing

Specific clinical services provided by the unit are as follows:

• Hearing aid trial and fitting
• Hearing aid programming and analysis
• Tinnitus maskers
• Auditory verbal therapy
• Vestibular rehabilitation

Speech-Language Pathology
The speech-language pathology unit at the department is actively involved in the assessment and management of individuals with various speech, language, and swallowing disorders. The speech-language pathology section has multiple specialized units such as professional voice care unit, augmentative and alternative communication, dysphagia clinic, and telemedicine. Detailed assessment and interventions are carried out using instrumentation, test materials, and specialized software.
The speech-language pathology unit provides clinical services to people of all ages.

The unit has expertise and facility to manage children with

• Developmental Delay
• Autism
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
• Childhood Aphasia
• Mental Retardation
• Learning Disability Speech disorders
• Misarticulation
• Phonological disorder
• Stuttering
• Voice disorders
• Childhood apraxia of speech Similarly, the unit has the expertise to manage adults with
• Aphasia
• Dementia
• Dysarthria
• Stuttering
• Apraxia
• Voice
• Dysphagia

Research

Publication

Presentation

Ongoing research

Completed research

Awards & Honours

1. T Prithivi, H M Apoorva, M Abhijith and Dr. M Jayaram received best scientific presentation award for a paper titled “Assessment of noise exposure and prevalence of hearing loss among dairy workers: A preliminary survey and screening study” at national Conference on Community Based Rehabilitation held at JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru on 14, 15 and 16 December 2023.
2. Mr. S Lokheshwar received best poster award for his research presentation ‘Does Language Influence the Outcome of Vocal Loading?’ at National level conference – Recent Advances in Assessment and Management of Communication Disorders at Puducherry, Tamil Nadu in April 2023.
3. Ms. H M Apoorva and Dr M Jayaram received best poster award for their research paper ‘Auditory functions of individuals exposed to occupational noise through behavioural measures’ at the International Conference on Communication Disorders and Audiological Practices (Online mode) in September 2022.
4. Dr. M Jayaram, Professor and Head served as President of the Indian Speech-Language and Hearing Association for the year 2022-23. This is a professional and scientific association of speech-language pathologists and audiologists of India.
5. Ms. KK Julia, Audiologist Gr. 1, was given a Merit Certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 10000/- for securing first rank in M.Sc (Audiology) of Bangalore University.
6. Dr. M Jayaram was nominated the Chairman, AIISH Research Fund, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore which is a source of both an intra- and extra-mural research grants.
7. Dr. M Jayaram was nominated the Chief Editor for the national journal “Journal of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (JAIISH)”
8. The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology received a certificate of participation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for participating in World Hearing Day 2021
9. Mr. S Lokheshwar was identified as a reviewer for an article submitted to the Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice
10. Poster developed by S Lokheshwar, M Abhijith, and H M Apoorva on ‘Hygiene measures in Audiology’ secured first prize in the All India level e-poster competition organized by the Indian Speech and Hearing Association. Winners received a cash prize of Rs. 2500/- and a certificate.

Activity

Events

• World Hearing Day is an event of the WHO, and the theme for the year 2023 was “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality.” The focus of World Hearing Day 2023 was the integration of ear and hearing care into primary health care workers and training them for the same. The Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology conducted a training program for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) of Kolar taluk. This training was about how to identify ear and hearing-related issues in the population and make appropriate referrals. Dr M Jagadeesh, District Health Officer and Dr S Chandan Kumar, District Family Welfare Officer addressed the gathering on the importance of ASHA workers in identifying ear and hearing-related issues. Upwards of 100 ASHA workers from Kolar participated in the event.
• Professor M N Hegde, Professor Emeritus in Speech-language Pathology, University of California at Fresno is a great name in the global scene of speech and hearing. Dr Hegde visited the Academy on 10 January 2023 and delivered a lecture on “Biological bases of language acquisition in children: Myths and facts”. A large number of staff and students of the Academy participated in the event.
• International Day for Persons with Disabilities is observed on 3 December every year. The staff and students of the department of Speech Pathology & Audiology along with ASHA workers conducted a door-to-door survey of the population for identification (if any) of problems relating to speech and hearing in 9 villages of Kolar. Pamphlets related to speech, language and hearing disorders were released and distributed to the members of the public as part of the survey. Pregnant women were counselled on the prevention of communication disorders. 4891 persons in 993 households were surveyed.
• A one-day online seminar on ‘Assessment and management of speech, language, and swallowing disorders in geriatric population’ was conducted on Zoom platform on 26 November 2022. Dr. M Jayaram, Professor and Head, Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, SDUAHER delivered the key-note address. The external resource persons included Dr. B S Premalatha, Professor, Department of Speech Language Studies, Dr SRC ISH, Bangalore, Dr. S P Goswami, Professor, Dept of Speech Language Pathology, AIISH, Mysuru and Mr. Prasanna S Hegde, Speech and Swallow Therapist, HCG hospital, Bangalore. The inhouse resource persons were Mr. Lokheshwar S, and Mr. A V Sumanth, Assistant Professors at the department.
• The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology was established on 20 June 2018. The Foundation Day of the department was celebrated on this day by conducting an Expo on Speech and Hearing Processes. The Expo was especially focused on students of higher secondary (PUC) standards in and around Kolar. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. G Pradeep inaugurated the Expo. Prospectus of the department for the year 22-23 was released on the occasion. The expo was attended by 422 PU students and 8 teachers from different colleges in and around Kolar in addition to an equal number of staff and students from the Academy.
• The department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, SDUAHER organised a workshop for singers on ‘Maintaining voice through vocal fitness and practice’. Twenty-five singers participated in the workshop. There were demonstrations on posture, breathing for singing, and Yoga-related exercises in addition to lectures. A hand-out on voice care and vocal hygiene was released on the occasion.
• World Health Organization has declared 3 March as World Hearing Day. The theme for this year was “To hear for life, Listen with Care”. The following events were conducted by the department of Speech Pathology & Audiology:
  • Activities at the Academy – A national level poster contest was conducted for students of PU and degree colleges. The contest was publicized through social media platforms and an official mail was sent to students of nearly 60 speech and hearing institutions in the county. In addition, 18 pre-university and 12-degree colleges of Kolar city were approached. Nearly 160 students took part in the contest. After the first level of shortlisting, the top 20 posters were evaluated by 4 experts in the field of speech and hearing. Also, a flyer and an awareness video was developed on “The effects of recreational noise”.https://youtu.be/WD6GXp3K3GQ
  • New born hearing screening camp at SNR District Hospital of Kolar –Newborn babies were screened for hearing by a team of 8 audiologists from the department. Detailed high risk register, otoscopy, oto-acoustic emissions and screening BOA were administered. All babies screened passed the hearing screening. Parents and caregivers of the babies were counselled on normal development of speech and hearing entities and were also asked to visit the department if any deviation or delay was noticed in the growth of their babies.
• UN has declared 3 December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD). The theme of IDPwD 2021 is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world”. The department conducted two events to educate the public on issues related to disability and persons with disability.
  • Walkathon-Walkathon was flagged-off from Nalla Gangamma Temple to Gandhi statue, MG Road, Kolar. Staff and students of department of Speech Pathology and Audiology as well as students of the Department of Physiotherapy participated in the event. Pamphlets related to speech, language and hearing disorders were distributed to the public.
  • Street play-A street play on aphasia was performed at Gandhi Statue Square, M G road and at old bus stand of Kolar City after the walkathon. The team then performed a street play in the village of Ramasandra, Kolar. The street play dealt with four themes - aphasia, importance of early diagnosis and intervention in hearing impairment, stuttering and presbycusis. Pamphlets related to speech, language and hearing disorders were distributed to the public. Stationery items were distributed to the children of the Government primary school.
• The month of June is observed as Aphasia Awareness Month every year. The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology commemorated the event by conducting the following events.
  • Initiation of a multi-specialty “Neurogenic Communication Disorders Clinic” There are people who suffer from stroke, or who experience head injury or other neurological diseases. A common sequel of all of these is a difficulty in speaking or understanding or both. The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has established a special clinic – Neurogenic Communication Disorders Clinic - at the Department of General Medicine to provide much needed clinical services in the domain of communication disorders for this affected population.https://youtu.be/nzAPYEQFGIE
  • Development of a short film on “Aphasia – Importance of early intervention”: A 11-minute video which highlights the importance of early intervention in developing communication skills in persons who suffer stroke was released on the occasion. The video is also available in print form in Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam.
  • Development of a handout on Aphasia: This hand out gives all information on stroke/ brain injury and its sequel in a nutshell.
• The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology of the Academy observed World Hearing Day on 3 March 2021 by conducting a quiz program for +2 students of PU Colleges of Kolar. 18 pre-university colleges of Kolar city were approached for the event and nearly 460 students took part in preliminary rounds between 24 to 27 February 2021. Fortyfive students qualified to the grand finale which was held at the University Auditorium on 3 March 2021. This program was conducted to create awareness on the field of speech and hearing among the students of Kolar. Dr. G Pradeep Kumar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the Academy released a video on “Hearing Care”.  Dr. K N V Prasad, Registrar and Dr. S M Azeem Mohiyuddin, Medical superintendent released public education material on “Hearing Aid Care and Maintenance”.
• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare formally inaugurated the AIISH - SDUAHER Newborn Hearing Screening project on 3 March 2021, on the occasion of the World Hearing Day. Senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, Prof. M Pushpavathi, Director of AIISH, Dr G Pradeep Kumar, Vice Chancellor of SDUAHER, Dr. K N V Prasad, Registrar, Dr. S M Azeem Mohiyuddin, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Madhavi Reddy, Dean of Allied Health & Basic Sciences and Dr M Jayaram, Head Dept. of Speech Pathology and Audiology and NBS Coordinator along with staff of the Academy were witness to this inaugural event.
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020 was observed by the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology on 3 December 2020 by carrying out two events; a) an online quiz on “Disability-related Issues” was held on 30 November 2020 on Zoom and Kahoot platform, and b) subsequently, a public education pamphlet on Autism in two languages - English and Kannada - was released by the Hon’ble Chancellor Dr S Kumar.
• A orientation program on hearing health and rehabilitation for journalists of Kolar was arranged on 3 March 2020 at Press Club, Kolar in association with Press Bureau of Kolar. The members of the Press Bureau gave wide publicity to this program.
• The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology organized an orientation program for Village Rehabilitation Workers and Multi Rehabilitation Workers on aids and appliances for hearing loss on 3 March 2020. This was a part of the observance of World Hearing Day. Mr. M Abhijith, Audiologist Gr-I, was the resource person.
• Orientation for Nurses by Mr. Ashique, an Audiologist Gr I under the AIISH-SDUAHER Newborn Hearing Screening project conducted a orientation program for nurses, in coordination with the staff of the department, on the importance of newborn hearing screening. The program was held on 12 -13 February 2020.
• On the occasion of International Day for Differently Abled Persons,
• The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology organized an orientation program for special educators on the importance of inclusive education. This program was conducted on 3 December 2019 at Sri Sai Shathashrunga Residential School for the Deaf, Bangarapet, Kolar in association with the NSS Cell Unit - III of the Academy.

Camps

• A free hearing screening camp was conducted on 3 April 2021 drivers and conductors of KSRTC. 54 staff members of KSRTC were screened for hearing and counselled. This program was an effort to raise awareness on noise induced hearing loss as well as on the availability of facilities for hearing evaluation and management at Kolar.
• A screening camp was organized for screening children with hearing impairment on 3 December 2019 at Sri Sai Shathashrunga Residential School for Deaf, Bangarapet, Kolar. 54 children were screened for their speech-language and hearing status and 24 of them were referred to the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, SDUAHER, Tamaka, Kolar for detailed evaluation.

Media

• Programs relating to ‘Foundation Day of the Department’, more particularly the Expo on ‘Speech and Hearing Processes’ for PU students in and around Kolar on 20 June 2022 were extensively covered by regional Kannada newspapers of Kolar.
• The quiz program for +2 students of PU Colleges of Kolar (as part of World Hearing Day) and virtual inauguration of AIISH-SDUAHER Newborn Hearing Screening Centre on 3 March 2021 were extensively covered with lead articles in Kannada newspapers of Kolar.
• An article on Autism was published in two local Kannada newspapers 'Kolara Kirana' and 'Kolaravani' on 2 April 2020 on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day.
• Dr. M Jayaram gave an interview on the importance of early identification and rehabilitation of children with hearing impairment and an article was published in Vijaya Karnataka on 11 June 2020.

FAQ's

1. Who is a speech-language pathologist (SLP)?

   Speech language pathologists are the health care professionals who are involved inprevention, diagnosis and management of speech, language and swallowing disorders.

2. Who is an audiologist?

   Audiologists are the health care professionals who are involved in prevention, diagnosisand management of hearing and balance disorders.

3. Where can I avail services for speech and hearing problems?

   You can avail services for speech and hearing issues at the department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Tamaka, Kolar. The department is housed in the 4th floor of CARE building of the academy.

4. How long can I expect my child to attend speech therapy?

   The duration of speech therapy and progress differs from child to child. It also depends on the type and severity of the disorder and he amount of home training given.

5. What are the facilities available at your centre?

   The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has state of the art infrastructure and facilities for the evaluation and management of communication disorders. We have specific test materials to evaluate and diagnose the severity of various speech and language disorders and subsequently provide speech-language therapy. Hearing aids are available at discounted price.

6. What is the fee structure of B.ASLP Program?

   The annual tuition fee for B. ASLP program is Rs. 88,000/-

Location

4th Floor, CARE Building, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Tamaka, Kolar – 563103, Karnataka, India.

Working hours

Monday – Saturday

8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
2:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Government holidays and the third Saturday of every month is a holiday.