At Sunnybrook, communication is more than just a skill—it’s a fundamental part of patient care. At Sunnybrook, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists play crucial roles in supporting individuals with communication challenges. While their work often intersects, each profession brings unique expertise.
The roles they play
In Ontario, both SLPs and audiologists are regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). According to CASLPO,
“SLPs are concerned with the identification, assessment, treatment, (re)habilitation and prevention of communication and/or swallowing disorders in children and adults.” They go on to explain that, “Audiologists are concerned with the prevention, identification, assessment, treatment, and (re)habilitation of auditory and balance difficulties in children and adults.”
Both professions manage a varied approach to their practice, including:
- Screening and assessment
- Dispensing of equipment
- Patient, staff, and family education
- Participation in rounds and discharge planning
- Individualized and group therapy
- Coordination of care with other staff
An interprofessional approach
Interprofessional collaboration is key to patient care at Sunnybrook. Audiologists and SLPs are vital to a variety of teams across multiple programs. At Sunnybrook’s Bayview Campus, audiologists work with otolaryngologists and hearing instrument specialists to operate a hearing aid clinic and Canada’s largest Adult Cochlear Implant Program. Speech language pathologists work in 8 of the 10 care programs at Sunnybrook, across all campuses. They provide care across acute care, transitional care, long-term care, palliative care and ambulatory care settings.
The intersection of communication
Both professions bring valuable expertise to the patient experience in different ways. What connects these roles is something that connects us all: communication! Audiologists and SLPs are dedicated to the improvement of communicative ability, both incoming and outgoing.
To that end, communicative disorders assistants (CDA) aim to support the cause by facilitating pathways for meaningful, effective communication. Jason Dallas is a CDA who works at our Veteran’s Centre and supports the audiology and SLP departments.
“Communication is a fundamental human right. I often hear how impairments in hearing or communicative ability can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation. I believe the work of Audiologists and SLPs is so important, and our residents and patients agree wholeheartedly!”
Communication strategies for everyday life
Whether you’re supporting someone with a communication disorder or seeking to enhance your own interactions, the following strategies will prove beneficial in supporting effective communication:
- Speak at a moderate pace and volume
- Focus on speaking clearly
- Face your communication partner, and speak at eye level
- In an environment where people are often masked, this can greatly enhance intelligibility
- Make sure important information has been heard correctly by asking the listener to repeat it back to you (e.g., appointment times; medication instructions)
- Reduce or eliminate background noise as much as possible
- To make sure that hearing aids are working:
- Check that battery doors are fully closed OR
- Make sure that rechargeable hearing aids are properly charged every night (cup the hearing aids in your hands and listen for feedback – feedback means sound is getting through)
At Sunnybrook, our commitment to communicative health is evident in the collaborative efforts of SLPs and audiologists. For more information, or if you think you require the services of an SLP or audiologist, visit:
