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@The major role of an ST is to systematically and scientifically examine the communication problems of the handicapped
and train them to decrease or remove the disorders. The problems in communication may arise from various types of hearing
impairments, disfunctions in speech motor control, phonation inability, delays in language development, language
deficits due to various types of brain damage. The number of people suffering from such communication problems has been
increasing, and the needs for ST has also been increasing.
The clinical and therapeutic skills by ST are in wide demand in various institutions such as hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation centers for the handicapped, welfare facilities for the aged, education facilities for children, and even in industrial companies like hearing-aid providers. In December 1997, the Japanese goverment enacted a law for the state licencing for the Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy. Since March 1999, the state examination for the license has been held once a year. |
