About Profession
A speech and language pathologist is a healthcare professional who provides screening, identification, assessment, diagnostic, intervention, and follow-up services for people with communication disorders. They provide services to individuals with communication problems associated with language disorders, (such as in clients with Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Mental impairment, Aphasia etc.), Voice disorders, (such as hoarseness, spasmodic dysphonia, nasality etc.), Articulation disorders (such as clients with Cleft lip-Palate, misarticulations, Dysarthria etc.), Fluency disorders (such as Stammering or Stuttering, Cluttering) Speech-language, cognition and memory problems following strokes, traumatic head injury, aging to name a few. Speech-Language Pathologists are also trained to assess and provide intervention for swallowing disorders.
Audiology is a branch of science that deals with hearing and hearing related disorders. Audiologists are trained in identifying individuals with hearing loss, differential diagnosis of auditory disorders which include conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing disorders and central auditory processing disorders.They have an expertise in audiological rehabilitation, which includes recommendation of amplification devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and speech language therapy for individuals with hearing impairment. They also cater to the needs of individuals with special needs such as those with tinnitus, giddiness disorders.
The Indian Speech and Hearing Association –Maharashtra Branch (MISHA) is the state level branch of parent body, Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA). The parent body ISHA, was registered in Mysore, Karnataka, India in 1966. The registered office of ISHA is at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysore. For more information about ISHA, log on to www.ishaindia.org.in
Alumni of Topiwala National Medical College (TNMC) and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital’s Audiology and Speech Therapy School started the Indian Speech and Hearing Association – Maharashtra Branch popularly known as MISHA in 1980. The State branch became truly active in November 1999 with the efforts and support of Prof. Ramesh Oza and Prof R. Vaidyanathan to host the National Convention (ISHACON) in 2001. 1999 onwards MISHA has been one of the most active State level Branches.
- To bring together the Audiologists and Speech – Language Pathologists (ASLPs) working in diverse settings and locations in Maharashtra.
- To offer a platform for the ASLPs to share, discuss their concerns, suggestions about the profession and its scope.
- To upgrade the scientific knowledge of MISHA members.
- To achieve this objective MISHA organizes CEPs, which include lectures, workshops with hands on training sessions, discussion forums for its members and non-members. These continuing education programs include national and international experts from the profession and from allied professions.
- To organize regional conference-MISHACON, which is organized as biennial event.
- MISHA has organized and continues to organise RCI recognized CRE programs for their members and helped them for renewal of their certification.
MISHA was registered with the Charity Commissioner’s Office under the Bombay Trust Act in 2003 and received the 80G certificate, which allows donors to contribute to MISHA with tax exemption.
MISHA instituted the “Ramesh K Oza Oration” in 2009 which is presented to a deserving professional during the Annual ISHA Convention every year and is being given since 2010.
MISHA has initiated the projects on Development of Language Tests for Children (Age group 0- 48 months) in Marathi (MTCDM-MISHA Test of Communication Development in Marathi), Speech in Noise test in Marathi. MTCDM was published in November 2020 and many ASLPs are using it in their respective clinic. MISHA is the first state branch to develop such a test.