Hearing and balance disorders can be assessed, treated, and rehabilitated by an audiologist. Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centred care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages. Hearing and balance disorders are complex with medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and employment implications. Treatment services require audiologists to have knowledge of existing and emerging technologies, as well as interpersonal skills to counsel and guide patients and their family members through the rehabilitative process. Audiologists provide professional and personalized services to minimize the negative impact of these disorders, leading to improved outcomes and quality of life.

Rehabilitation is an intervention designed to improve functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions and their environment. The rehabilitation process is a highly person-centred approach that caters to the underlying conditions and goals of the user. There is a continuum of rehabilitation, ranging from new-borns to elderly people. It is possible to receive rehabilitation interventions before and after a health condition, during acute care, or after and during long-term care, as well as by health and non-health professionals, as well as by individuals, their families, and caregiver. Rehabilitation promotes a person’s full potential through restoring, preventing, or slowing deterioration in functioning. This enables the person to participate in society to the fullest extent possible.

The process of expressing thoughts through sound is called speech. When a person cannot use spoken words to communicate, they may also be referred to as communication disorders. SLPs can use various techniques to improve communication skills in both children and adults through speech therapy. Speech language services are aimed at helping individuals’ ability to communicate and swallow, which helps in improving their quality of life. How treatment looks in practice depends on the patient. SLPs use the latest technologies to evaluate and care for people with communication, voice and swallowing disorders. Endoscopy and fibreoptic machines are commonly used to assess swallowing, while ultrasound and other biofeedback systems can help with speech or voice production.