Awareness of The Baslp As A Professional Career Option Among Higher Secondary Students from ICSE and CBSE

Abstract

Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) is an emerging Allied Health Science profession concerned with the assessment and management of communication disorders. Despite its wide scope and increasing career opportunities, awareness regarding BASLP among higher secondary students remains limited. The present study aimed to assess the awareness of BASLP as a professional career option among higher secondary students from ICSE and CBSE schools in Kerala. The study included 40 randomly selected students aged between 16 and 18 years from various CBSE and ICSE affiliated schools in Kerala. A validated self administered questionnaire consisting of 12 closed ended (Yes/No) questions was distributed online to assess awareness regarding BASLP, its scope, career opportunities and factors influencing career choices. Descriptive statistics and the binomial test were used for analysis. The findings revealed that 82.5% of students were aware of BASLP as a career option and 92.5% showed interest in medical-related careers. Awareness regarding the role of Speech-Language Pathologists was relatively high, whereas knowledge about BASLP being a part of Allied Health Sciences, its affiliation with the Rehabilitation Council of India, availability of colleges and career opportunities was limited. Only 30% of students reported receiving information regarding BASLP as a career option. The study highlights the need for improved career guidance and awareness programmes to enhance the visibility of BASLP among higher secondary students in Kerala.