Imagine not being able to communicate what you feel/need/want/are scared of/love...Lonely and frustrating, isn’t it?

Speech therapists help to diagnose and treat people with medical and psychological disorders which affect their speech, language, voice and swallowing. They work closely with teachers and health professionals including doctors, nurses and psychologists.

The process of rehabilitation can be long and tiring, so patience and passion for people are definitely prerequisites.

Speech therapy programmes are offered at a wide variety of institutions in South Africa.

If this seems like the perfect job, you’ll have to work at keeping good grades in math, science and/or biology, physiology and anatomy and have a good record of involvement in sport, cultural activities or community projects.

• Still interested in communicating for a living but don’t think speech therapy is for you? Read about other communication careers in the HIP2B² mag, Issue 18
• Visit the South African Speech-Language-Hearing Association site
• Bursaries
• Singing Voice provides detailed information, history and links about the human voice, opera and the art of singing.
• Types of non-verbal communication
• Visit the non-verbal library
• Listen to a few famous speeches in history...