Studying speech, language, and hearing sciences at Saint Louis University will prepare you for a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Speech-language pathologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders, while audiologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat hearing disorders. If you choose to major in speech, language, and hearing sciences at Saint Louis University, you will observe adults and children with a variety of speech, language and auditory disorders during your undergraduate years. Following the completion of your required courses, you'll also have an opportunity to participate in an elective clinical practicum. Many students also choose to study abroad. SLU’s program requires 38 credits of speech, language, and hearing sciences coursework along with the required credits of Doisy College of Health Sciences core curriculum. It also requires 25 credits of clinical observation and completion of a capstone project.Speech-language pathologists help prevent, identify, assess and provide treatment for communication and swallowing disorders to improve outcomes and quality of life of the client and their families. These include language development, acquired language disorders, stuttering and voice and articulation disorders. Disorders related to literacy also have become an area of focus for speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists provide service to children and adults and work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing homes, private practice and private clinics such as the Saint Louis University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Audiologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat hearing disorders. Audiologists also evaluate hearing, prescribe and dispense hearing aids, program cochlear implants, assess balance and provide intervention for auditory processing disorders to improve auditory skills, outcomes and quality of life for clients and their families. Audiologists are also involved in monitoring nerve function during surgery. Audiologists work in a variety of settings, including physician offices, hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing homes, private practice and schools.
