Geriatric Population Increasing

The geriatric population is increasing in the Far East , Middle East and in advanced countries in the West due to availability of better health facilities and improved medical care. Elderly people are prone to serious ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease which is progressive in nature and commences from mild memory loss leading to dementia. Speech, language and at times swallowing difficulties occur when Parkinson’s disease sets in.

Working abroad

There is a negative birth rate in many advanced countries and trained health care personnel are not available in sufficient number to take care of the ageing population. Quoting relevant extracts from Caroline Bowen PhD “I receive emails regarding Speech-Language Pathology / Speech and Language Therapy in Asia . The email comes from members of “expat” / foreign communities in Asia looking for SLP/SLT services in their own languages; researchers trying to contact individuals, professional associations in relation to their research; and SLPs  wanting to extend their experience by working abroad ” https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54.

Speech Language Pathologists/Therapists

Speech Language Pathologists/therapists (SLP/Ts) are in demand internationally as awareness has increased of speech , communication and feeding and swallowing disorders in children and the ageing population. Despite graduates of BS and MS from Riphah International University becoming an integral part of the healthcare system there is still an acute shortage of SLPs and the same is markedly pronounced in the Far East and Western countries. In the Asia Pacific region ageing is taking place at an unprecedented pace and in the year 2016 almost 12.4 % of the population was more then 60 years of age.Japan boasts one of the longest average life expectancies of 84 years and caregiving needs inclusive of speech therapy services for the elderly require additional costs https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/japans-age-wave-challenges-and-solutions. In USA the stigmatism of ageing can be countered by SLPs who can and should take the initiative to develop standardised techniques in order to manage and care for the aging population and prepare for the increased services this category will demand in the future https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/aging/ . In a survey in Australia it was highlighted that the scope of SLPs should be expanded to cater to the rehabilitation needs of an ageing population  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29252006/.

Opportunities for SLP/Ts in Pakistan & abroad

The strength of the SLP/Ts in Pakistan needs to be increased to cater for the rapidly ageing population here and in other countries as well. Riphah International University takes 4 years to produce a BS Speech Language Pathologist and an additional 2 years for MS in the same discipline. Employment opportunities for Speech Language Pathologists/therapists exist at both private and public sector tertiary care hospitals however the health sector has the capacity to absorb a significant number of  SLP/Ts as awareness increases of speech , communication and feeding and swallowing disorders in children and the ageing population.  To meet the rising demand of the ageing population concerted efforts should be made by the health policy makers and academicians  to accommodate the SLP/Ts community. Timely and concerted efforts on behalf of health policy makers will enable Speech Language Pathologists/therapists to meet the huge demand overseas as well.

Contributed by Professor Dr Nazia Mumtaz

PhD Rehabilitation Sciences