Speech pathologists provide professional services for persons whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is impaired by disorders of speech, language, voice, swallowing, fluency and hearing. The diagnostic and therapeutic services needed by such persons are made available within a variety of settings: pre-schools, schools, clinics established in hospitals, community health centres, mental health agencies, nursing homes and private practices. Speech pathologists also conduct research into a wide range of issues related to communications and swallowing.