LMI - Detailed description

Job titles

assistive listening device technician
audio prosthetist
audiology technician
View all job titles

This unit group includes workers, not elsewhere classified, who perform various technical therapy and assessment functions. Some may assist professionals such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, ophthalmologists and physiotherapists. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, educational institutions and in the private practices of the professionals they assist. Massage therapists may also be self-employed.

Fields of interest

Providing others with care and assistance
Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

The following is a summary of the main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
- Audio prosthetists examine clients to determine appropriate type of hearing aid; may test patient's hearing; take ear impressions for use in the manufacture of the devices; fit and adjust hearing aids; and perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.
- Audiometric assistants administer, under the supervision of audiologists, tests such as speech reception and speech discrimination to determine the hearing thresholds of patients; and record these test results.
- Communication assistants carry out remedial programs, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists, to rehabilitate patients with communicative disorders.
- Massage therapists assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle testing and propose treatment plans; treat soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs; provide courses of treatment for medical conditions and injuries or wellness maintenance; maintain records of treatments given; and may work with other health care professionals when appropriate.
- Ophthalmic medical assistants operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists to assess patients' vision; record test results; assist ophthalmologists in office surgery; and administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists.
- Physical rehabilitation technicians carry out, under physiotherapists' direction, treatment programs such as massage, thermotherapy, traction and hydrotherapy to rehabilitate injured or disabled individuals.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

* Audio prosthetists require completion of a two- or three-year college program in audio prosthetics, including a period of supervised training.
* Licensure with a regulatory body is required for audio prosthetists in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.
* Audiometric and communication assistants require completion of a 12- to 18-month college program in communicative disorders orSome post-secondary education and on-the-job training.
* Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36 month program in massage therapy from an accredited school and supervised practical training.
* Registration with a regulatory body is required for massage therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.
* Ophthalmic medical assistants require completion of a nine-month college program or a 24- to 30-month hospital-based training program in ophthalmic techniques and procedures orA minimum of one year of supervised practical training under an ophthalmologist and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
* Physical rehabilitation technicians require completion of a three-year college program in physical rehabilitation therapy and supervised practical training.