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Indian
Speech & Hearing Association
(ISHA) was born on 4th April 1966 when the first
All India Workshop on Speech & Hearing Problems was held at
Vellore (South India). Dr.Y.P.Kapur, an eminent ENT
Specialist who was working on Deafness Research Project at
Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, organized it.
Formal
registration of the Association was done on 15th
December 1967. This was done after the firm decision was taken
following the annual conference of the Association of
Otolaryngologists of India. There was strong support for the
Audiology & Speech Therapy as a specialty from the ENT
Surgeons of India and the seniors were instrumental in
organizing a formal group.
From
small beginnings
There were only three persons with formal qualifications in
Audiology & Speech Pathology when this association was formed.
They included Ramesh Oza, who was the first Professor &
Head of Audiology & Speech Therapy School started
at the T.N.Medical College and BYL Nair Ch.Hospital
at Bombay in 1966. It was the first program in India
followed by All India Institute of Speech & Hearing at Mysore,
which was headed by one of the retired Directors of Medical
Services of erstwhile Madras State. Dr.N.Rathna became the
first Speech Pathologist & Special Educator to head this
Institute subsequently.
Many
SLP and audiology graduates
More than 1500 audiologists and speech therapists are trained in
past thirty-four years. Minimum requirement for admission is the
same as for medical degree program. There are ten institutions
offering B.Sc./M.Sc. programs in Audiology & Speech Pathology
and four recognized for Ph.D programs. More than 20 persons have
completed Ph.D. from these institutions.
Association
activities
ISHA maintains register of members and holds Annual Convention in
January / February each year. Attendance to these Conventions is
always very encouraging. Nearly 100 papers are presented. Recently
delegates from western countries have started taking interest.
Facilities
There are more than 200 Speech and Hearing Centres in India
well equipped with latest equipment for audiometric and speech
evaluations. Three Indian companies manufacture audiometers and
other assistive devices for the rehabilitation of the speech and
hearing impaired.
Standards
Since 1996 all Audiologists, Speech Pathologists, Teachers for
Hearing Impaired, Clinical Psychologists working for the
handicapped, Orthotists etc., are required to register under the
Rehabilitation Council of India in New Delhi in order to practice
their specialty or work with the handicapped. Not doing so
attracts penal action. Foreign therapists cannot take up a job or
set up private clinic without approval from the Ministry of Home
Affairs, Foreign Affairs and registration with Rehabilitation
Council of India. However, they are allowed to observe the
clinical programs and take part in Conferences, Seminars and
Workshops.
Information
For any further information about the profession in India, please
contact any of the following people:
Director
director@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
Ali
Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped
Bandra, and Mumbai
Director
aiish_dir@yahoo.com
All India
Institute of Speech & Hearing Mysore
ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF SPEECH AND HEARING,
MANASAGANGOTHRI,MYSORE-6
KARNATAKA STATE INDIA
Director
ishroot@mantraonline.com
Dr.S.R.Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing
Bangalore
Dept.
of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
S.R.Medical College & Research Inst.
Chennai
http://www.srmc.edu/
Sri
Ramachandra College of Allied Health Sciences
Bachelor
of Speech, Language,Hearing Sciences
Contact Professor Roopa Nagarajan
roopa_nagarajan@hotmail.com
Dr.Rajasekhar
rajbellur@yahoo.com
Prof. & Head, Inst. of Speech & Hearing
Manipal Medical College & Hospital, Manipal
Mr.Ramesh
K.Oza
calipsonic@vsnl.com
rameshoza@netscape.net |