SASLHA is the acknowledged voice of Speech-Language Therapists and Audiologists in South Africa. A National Council is elected by its members at the Annual General Meeting, and this council serves on a voluntary basis to address the needs of our members and their professions. SASLHA promotes the professions to the public and promotes the best interests of members in all spheres of professional activity.

Speech-Language Therapists are the allied health-care professionals who assess, diagnose, treat, and manage disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication, social communication, neurogenic communication and swallowing in both adults and children. Audiologists are the allied health-care professionals who assess, diagnose, treat, and manage disorders of hearing, balance and other neural systems in both adults and children. Both occupations also play a role in prevention of the above-mentioned disorders. The professions of Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology are separate but closely aligned and commonly work together.

Both Speech-Language Therapists and/or Audiologists support patients ranging in age from newborns to adults and the geriatric population. In addition to clinical roles both professions play important roles in providing education, ensuring prevention as well as conducting research. Both Speech-Language Therapists and/or Audiologists provide treatment in school-based settings, acute in-patient settings, rehabilitation facilities as well as out-patient rooms. An audiologist evaluates, selects, fits and distributes hearing aids as well as a multitude of other listening devices to their clients. They play an important role in providing education of the effects of noise on hearing and help prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting appropriate protective hearing devices. Speech-Language Therapists use a variety of treatments and techniques in order to improve speech, communication and swallowing. These include articulation therapy, language intervention, dysphagia (swallowing) therapy, cognitive-linguistic treatment to mention a few.

To become a qualified Speech-Language Therapist and/or Audiologist you will need to successfully complete at least four years of academic and clinical training at a university. It is a requirement for all Speech-Language Therapists and/or Audiologists to be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa in order to practice in the country.

Hearing Loss of any nature, at any age
Ongoing dizziness and balance disturbances
Frequent exposure to noise, particularly to ensure the correct protective equipment.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Individuals with Auditory Processing Disorder
Newborns for hearing screening
Individuals with cochlear implants
Individuals requiring aural rehabilitation

Articulation problems – poor speech clarity and making errors in sounds
Hearing impairment
Stuttering
Literacy difficulties
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Vocal nodules and hoarseness
Language learning difficulties
Receptive and expressive language difficulties
Cerebral Palsy
Oral feeding problems: Difficulty with eating, swallowing, and drooling.
Brain Injury
Stroke
Bell’s Palsy
Guillain Barre Syndrome
Head and neck cancer
Degenerative neurogenic illnesses e.g. Parkinson’s, Motor Neuron Disease, Multiple Sclerosis etc.