Testimonials

The proverb “Its hard to beat a person who never gives up” personifies me. I was very fortunate to be amongst a group of wonderful people in the College of Language Speech & Hearing Sciences who I believe have been the best mentors a student could ever have, as they were instrumental in bringing out the best in me as a student and as a Speech language therapist . I came into this profession with a passion, to make a difference in a person’s life. Achieving my dream was a very challenging yet, thoroughly stimulating experience. My experince at Ziauddin has diversified my perspective towards life; The agnoy of unable to speak or swallow, yet, we take all these blessings forgranted. Seeing the patients in the speech language clinic, learn and enhance their communication skills and become contributing members of society has been a wonderfully satisfying experience. As I graduate I endeavour to be a source of pride for my peers, all my teachers, and most of all for my parents, with whom I have come thus far.

INSIYA SAIFUDDIN SODAWATERWALA

BS SLT

What gives me an edge in my profession?

I think that it’s important to treat this job not like a mundane office routine; doing work and coming back. My job is means of ‘HELPING EMPOWER’ individuals; you need to believe that. Because that drives you (it’s the antecedent and the reinforcement; too much of ABA:p); you own the therapeutic process and it helps keep creativity alive which takes me to my next point. BEING CREATIVE! Children are smart creatures; they explicitly show when ‘aunty’ is a boring chap to work with and when they love ‘work time’; if you can’t engage them with yourselves, you can’t help them engage with others. Lastly ‘READING UP’ on what you do not know, which is, by the way, plenty. It constantly helps you adjust and re-adjust your goals, techniques and the line of approach you take.

CSLHS, Alhamdulillah, has been the place where I’ve seen all three ingredients time and again; if not in every session, but enough to take the lessons home. All the water, bubble play, play therapies, pretend themes, group fun has really helped me learn a lot, not to forget the often seen optimism in therapists that helps you really keep the child in focus.

HAFSA MUNIR
GOLD MEDALIST – BATCH V
ZIAUDDIN UNIVERSITY

I wanted to thank you and the entire team at Ziauddin University and SHAP for the wonderful work that you have done and keep doing. My degree from Ziauddin has gotten me through so many professional hurdles that I have literally lost the count. Since I started from interviewing for admission in City University London, to giving presentations there, to reflecting my previously acquired knowledge in class discussions and finally getting me through my thesis. The list doesn’t stop here. Since I moved to the US and started working my way to the professional licenses, my Ziauddin degree was accepted as is by the State, degree conversion agencies and ASHA. No questions asked. The document spoke for itself. Once I received my licenses and started interviewing for jobs, employers were amazed as to how much clinical experience I had gained during the study program and how I was exposed to such a wide variety of disorders and made to work with them. None of it reflects my achievements, it shows that I was worked on by a team of strong minded and strong willed people who had a vision for a change and they made sure they do an excellent job with it!! I feel very proud when I tell people that I graduated from Pakistan.

 

I cannot thank you enough for making me who I am right now 🙂

Best

TASNEEM ALI
GRADUATE BATCH 1

A center in KSA AL-Khoubar   “Sowt Specialist Center” presented me the job offer, through 2 telephonic interviews. They presented me with 2 clinical cases, asking me to give the assessment procedures and the treatment plans for both. The interview went on for 1 hour 20 minutes. Alhumduillah it went well and after 3 days I got a call from the founder of Sowt Center, which said that I have been highly recommended by  Claire – the lady who took my interview. Alhumduillah, I give all the credit to you for training us the way you did and guiding us Jazak ALLAH , Nourah who is the founder of this center asked me some questions about standardized testing, reliability and validity of  the test as they also face the same issues like we do in Pakistan (bilingualism) our conversation went on for 40 mins. In the end she presented me with a verbal offer to work with them and then after 2 days she gave in a formal offer.

I might not take the job offer, because I believe I will want to get more experience here at ZCSLHS and DOW

But I felt I had to write this long paragraph just to thank you; and to let you know that you have put in a lot of efforts on your students to make us where we are today Jazak ALLAH.

May ALLAH reward you for your efforts. Aameen.

SABEEN IQBAL RAJPUT
GRADUATE BATCH 5

I was fortunate to be introduced to Ziauddin and receive knowledge and
experiences that were extraordinary. Enrolling in the program was the
best decision I ever made. The courses were challenging and I learned
new in-depth communication skills. With support coming from many
directions, I now feel more confident that I will advance successfully
in my medical education. This is just a short list of a few ways this
program has helped me to shape in who I am today. I believe, though,
most importantly, that the ongoing emotional support and encouragement
that was provided in thousands of ways has been instrumental in making
me the humble person that I plan to be for others.

Fatima Yousuf

BSSLT
Batch 3

Enrolled for MS SLP

ZU-CSHLS is the only best place so far to provide the best knowledge, learning, and gathering experience from different clinical placements.
It was a privilege to be part of ZU-CSLHS.
The major lesson I learned was to be myself, and also how to tackle things precisely and in a facile manner. It enabled me to be an enlightened and critical thinker besides it helped me realize my true potential, discover my passion and pursue my dreams.

AFSHAN MEMON

BS ASLT

Batch 9

Founder of The Talk Clinic – Hyderabad

If you want to make an impact in someone’s life in the future, ZCSLHS is where you would want to start your future career as a Speech Pathologist. The 4 years I’ve studied here have opened various pathways and have also created longlasting relationships. Clinical cases you get to work with match with what you study and this is a game changer especially if you decide to pursue a Master’s degree overseas.
BS-SLT, MPH, MS-SLP

SYED USAMAH HUSSAIN

My name is Erum Sikander,  from Batch- 10, graduated in 2021 (BS ASLT) from CSLHS Ziauddin University

Currently, I hold a position of BPS-17 as a speech and language pathologist at Pediatric rehabilitation center LUMHS Jamshoro Hyderabad.

As a speech language pathologist, I work with pediatric and geriatric population with varying level of speech, language and communication difficulties including swallowing/ feeding issues. I work in a rehabilitation center usually we work as multidisciplinary team along with other health care professionals, parents, teachers and caregivers. Educating parents and caregivers to apply techniques/strategies at home/school/ environment for the better prognosis.

Speech therapy plays an important role in one’s life. Early intervention leads to better prognosis.

Most of the time parents/caregivers wait and see that their child will achieve their milestones with time, there is no need of therapy without getting any appointment with the therapist. As a parent or caregiver if your child is struggling with communication skills, social skills or he/she is lacking behind in his academics, does not responds to their name, or give you a hard meal time. To solve all those puzzles you should visit or call a speech language therapist.

When I graduated from College of Speech language and hearing sciences in 2021, I was jumbled with the thoughts either I should go for the internship, job or my private practice. I moved back to Hyderabad and decided to do internship at a rehabilitation center that was the best decision I made.  I started working there as an intern the population I got to deal with was not well educated and due to lack of information or awareness it was challenging working there, but the thing helped me a lot was the languages I knew I was able to communicate with them, initially parents were not getting what actually my work is they thought I just play with their child which they can also do at home but gradually they observed some changes/improvements in their child. Some awareness sessions helped us to educate population of Hyderabad and interior Sindh.

I am glad that many rehabilitation, hospitals and private practices are giving services of speech therapy and Audiology in Hyderabad.

Erum Sikander

Batch- 10

Never realized after all the hectic class schedules and running from room to room after every 30 minute session to initially observe for the two years and for the remaining two years conduct sessions in them, I would ever be so grateful to my college for making me someone who I am today.

It has been challenging, exhausting and to a point giving up on all the work done to be a speech therapist and audiologist yet the most rewarding path I have been blessed with.

 If I had to choose between what I want to be from the options – a speech therapist or an audiologist, I’d always pick the former, head over heels for this one no matter what.

My journey in becoming a practicing speech therapist started after I graduated and joined Aga Khan university hospital, extremely challenging but a milestone I always wanted to achieve in my life. I had intense exposure to variety of disorders and was very fortunate to be able to do my best in learning how to treat them. I was the only speech therapist from Ziauddin, indeed it was a challenge but through doing a lot of continuing education courses from tones of speech therapy websites like the MedicalSlp, medbridge, and trainings in Talktools, PECS, FEES, MDTP, J-Ark Head and Neck cancer treatment trainings, ASHA COURSES, Pediatric Feeding Disorders Mentorship program. All of this helped me stay updated to what best I could apply to all the various disorders I treated. And not to forget how research has been a key part in my learning process, getting access of Informed Slp made my life easier because staying updated and having an EBP( Evidence based practice) has made me a much more confident clinician rather than just boasting how well I know about my field, because trust me our field is constantly evolving and we need to move forward with it, using obsolete methods in treatment will work to an extent but  not for long, as it will only tire you from doing the monotonous approaches that you use in your session.

But how do I owe it to Ziauddin? Most of our faculty and a bunch of alumni who are a call or text away when it comes to guidance. I possibly couldn’t have done it without many of them and to be able to have an amazing alumnus who is mostly now a faculty in our college, so to be able stay connected to them, had opened doors to opportunities of learning and growing in my career.

Extremely proud to be an Alma mater from College of Speech Language and Heating Sciences.

Rida Khalid

BS ASLT

Batch 8

Work Place: Aga Khan Hospital (ENT department as a part timer), Synapse and running a private practice

I am Shazia Haider, one of the lucky graduates of BS SLT, ZCSHLS  2015.

Currently, I am fortunate enough to work as a Speech and swallowing therapist at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

I love to practice my skills in their long-term setup mostly, where 95% of the patients are with Tracheostomy tubes and ventilator support with a variety of diagnoses. However, dealing with swallow and feeding cases in their OPD is also interesting.

Like all the universities in the world, it is not a perfect one but it made me what I am professionally now. This place pushed me from classes to observations to outside projects. Importantly, during clinical practicum and internship, my teachers and supervisors help me with their expert advice and suggestions which are very useful till now.

In a nutshell, I am very grateful to my teachers and supervisors for building up and polishing my skills and personality. They will always be my mentor.

And yes! ZCSHLS is a family where I belong.

Shazia Haider

It has been a rollercoaster journey since my time as student clinician when I first started practicing speech therapy and audiology! Like all jobs, it has its ups and downs. There are days when I question what I am doing, especially when it gets emotionally overwhelming. Because working with individuals who struggle to communicate is hard.

But, and there’s a big but, it is one of the most fulfilling careers in the world. Knowing that I am giving all I have to help children communicate, be understood, is the best feeling. When a child says his/her first word, or uses a gesture for the first time, or simply interacts with you after weeks of hard work, you forget about the hard days, and it is the best reward ever.

So if you’re looking for a career that is meaningful, fulfilling, where you change lives, this is a great option!

Mariyah Zahid

BS ASLT

Batch 9 (Gold Medalist)

Ziauddin University & Centre of Inclusive Care

Studying here in Ziauddin College of Speech Language and Hearing sciences has been by far the best experience in the field of education for me. It played an integral part by giving me opportunities to enhance the foundations of my academic growth as well as of shaping me to become the professional I am today. Throughout the journey I was also offered quality career guidance with plethora of knowledge and was fortunate enough to be in the midst of such a stimulating and learning environment provided by our dynamic faculties professors, lecturers, teachers as well as peers who made it challenging enough so that we could find our interests and skill sets that we are best at. Moreover numerous training, conferences and workshops also facilitated my succession in the field. Ziauddin College of Speech Language and Hearing sciences gave me a platform to build my character, furthermore guided and encouraged at every step which went to be a stepping stone in sealing my career at a reputed organization, Lahore Autism Centre as Head of Speech Department. I am proud to be a graduate of such an esteemed university.

Zainab Zahid

BS SLT

Batch 6

A center in KSA AL-Khoubar   “Sowt Specialist Center” presented me the job offer, through 2 telephonic interviews. They presented me with 2 clinical cases, asking me to give the assessment procedures and the treatment plans for both. The interview went on for 1 hour 20 minutes. Alhumduillah it went well and after 3 days I got a call from the founder of Sowt Center, which said that I have been highly recommended by Claire – the lady who took my interview. Alhumduillah, I give all the credit to you for training us the way you did and guiding us Jazak ALLAH , Nourah who is the founder of this center asked me some questions about standardized testing, reliability and validity of  the test as they also face the same issues like we do in Pakistan (bilingualism) our conversation went on for 40 mins. In the end she presented me with a verbal offer to work with them and then after 2 days she gave in a formal offer.

I might not take the job offer, because I believe I will want to get more experience here at ZCSLHS and DOW

But I felt I had to write this long paragraph just to thank you; and to let you know that you have  put in a lot of efforts on your students to make us where we are today  Jazak ALLAH.

May ALLAH reward you for your efforts. Aameen.

Sabeen Iqbal Rajput

BS SLT

Batch 5

Enrolled for MS SLP

Being among the 2nd batch of BS SLT program from Ziauddin University feels nothing more than a blessing. We got the ultimate chance to learn from the very experts from the field of Speech Therapy with individual attention. Though the scope was a little skeptical at that time as no other institute in Pakistan was offering such program. Amazingly, it turned out to be unbelievable where I got my first job with overwhelming opportunities right after my graduation. The intensive practical exposure and the quality education with specialized courses make this program and its students stand out among others.

Alhamdulillah, I am currently working as Manager – Speech Language Pathologist at Indus Hospital & Health Network. I am privileged, honored and will remain thankful to all the teachers for their extra ordinary efforts which helped me in becoming what I am today.

Anam Madhani

BS- SLT/ MA-SLP

BATCH 2