Career profiles

Get a snapshot into the professional lives of HSNS staff, including job duties, work environment and educational requirements.

 

Audiologist

A clinical audiologist is responsible for providing screening, diagnostic and treatment of hearing and balance services to people of all ages, including inpatient and outpatient services.

Educational requirements:

  • Hold a master’s degree in Audiology
  • Licensed by the Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (NSCASLP)

Duties & responsibilities include:

  • Providing clinical supervision for communication disorders technicians as required
  • Training and supervising graduate students in practicum
  • Providing a full range of screening, diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology services to clients according to professional standards, HSNS departmental standards and assigned clinical programs

 

Speech-language pathologist

A clinical speech-language pathologist is responsible for a full range of diagnostic, treatment and counselling services for clients in service delivery sites to which they are assigned. This includes the provision of professional consultation and in-service education to professional groups, clients and families, caregiver groups and the community.

Educational requirements:

  • Hold a master’s degree in speech-language pathology
  • Licensed by the Nova Scotia College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (NSCASLP)

Duties & responsibilities include:

  • Providing clinical supervision for communication disorders technicians as required
  • Training and supervising graduate students in practicum
  • Providing a full range of screening, diagnostic and treatment services to clients according to professional standards, HSNS departmental standards and assigned clinical programs

 

Communication Disorders Technician

A communication disorders technician (CDT) will be trained for and assigned to specific duties to support designated clinical programs or services. A CDT works under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist.

Educational requirements:

  • Have successfully completed a communication disorders technician formal training program or formal assistant diploma program (Health and Wellness or Social and Community Supports). On the job training will be required regardless of education and experience.

Duties & responsibilities may include:

  • Performing routine screening procedures (e.g. hearing screening, telephone triage)
  • Performing routine battery of audiometric tests including taking a brief case history and writing a brief summary of the test findings for all populations
  • Assisting in the evaluation of infants, young children, and the difficult to test as requested by the supervising audiologist
  • Preparing treatment, home program materials, and client/caregiver resources
  • Assisting the speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist with caseload management/intake procedures (i.e. scheduling, filing, photocopying, case history form procedures, recording case history from charts or other clinical documentation
  • Assisting the speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist with clinical care
  • Preparing ‘low tech’ communication aids (e.g. visual supports, communication boards, etc.) and assisting with programming of high tech augmentative and alternative communication devices

 

Administrative Support Professional

An administrative support professional (ASP) is responsible for providing clerical support services. An ASP is responsible for assisting and establishing a positive rapport with the general public and medical community.

Educational requirements:

  • Hold a certificate/diploma from a recognized business/secretarial program
  • Have computer-related skills
  • A minimum of one-year related office experience

Duties & responsibilities include:

  • Monitoring and upkeep of referral intake/visit requests (waitlist)
  • Maintaining client charts in keeping with electronic medical records (EMR) processes
  • Reception duties: receiving clients/visitors, directing calls, taking messages, answering phone calls in a friendly, professional manner
  • Timely and accurate processing of correspondence
  • Coordinating and scheduling appointments, including recalls, as required (ensuring that patient information is up to date and accurate)