An Overview of the Status of the Speech-Language and Hearing Professions in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Oct 15, 2026

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Jordan is identified as a leading Arab country in establishing academic programs for speech-language pathology (SLP), beginning with a master’s program at the University of Jordan in 1992 and an early bachelor’s program in 1992 at the Applied Sciences University in Amman. The paper summarizes current program capacity, graduate totals, and licensing figures from Jordan’s Ministry of Health, alongside ASHA-certified practitioners. Despite notable progress over two decades, it calls for increased research funding, ethics development, additional service centers, and formation of a professional association.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

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Introduction

Speech-Language Services in Jordan

Speech-Language-Hearing Academic Programs in Jordan

An Overview of the Status of the Speech-Language and Hearing Professions in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics e-ISSN 2490-4198 Vol. 07, No. 01, 2022, 107-129 © AJAL [http://www.arjals.com](http://www.arjals.com) AlSabi1, Y. N.: Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences Department Hekma School of Health, Behavioral Sciences and Education Dar Al-Hekma University, Jeddah, Kingdom ofSaudi Arabia Abstract Jordan has been one of the leading Arab countries in establishing academic programs in the field of speechlanguage pathology (SLP) in the Arab region. The first master’s program was established at the University of Jordan in 1992 in Amman. The first bachelor’s program in SLP was established in 1992 at the private Applied Sciences University in Amman, Jordan. Currently, there are two master's and four bachelor's programs in Jordan. The total number of graduates holding bachelor's degrees from the four programs is 2472, and the total number of graduates with master's degrees is 500. According to the records of the Licensing Unit at the Ministry of Health, there are 142 licensed speech-language pathologists, 754 technician speech-language pathologists, 27 licensed audiologists, 244 technician-audiologists, and seven assistant technician audiologists. The total number of ASHA-certified Jordanian SLPs is around 15. The profession of SLP in Jordan has progressed remarkably in the past twenty years; however, it requires more attention at different levels to continue to advance. More financial support is needed for scholars to conduct more rigorous research. A code of ethics should be developed to promote the service delivery models and SLP services. Additionally, more centers are needed all over the country to service the vast numbers of individuals with communication disorders. A professional association should be established immediately to regulate and promote the profession at all levels. Keywords: 1 Corresponding author: Al Sabi, Y. N. Email: [ysabi@dah.edu.sa](ysabi@dah.edu.sa) Introduction The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, also known as Jordan, is one of the Middle East countries and one of the Asian continent's countries. “Jordan occupies an area of approximately 96, 188 square kilometers including the Dead Sea, making it similar in size to Austria and Portugal” (Jordan Government, 2006) . Jordan’s population is about 11 million people who are made up mostly of Arabs. Jordan’s residents include about 1.4 million Palestinian refugees who were forced out of Palestine during the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel; these Palestinians are now considered Jordanian citizens. Jordan is also home to 20,000-80,000 Circassian non-Arab Muslims who came originally from the Caucasus region of Western Asia. Most of them live in Amman, the Wadi Seer area, Naur, Jerash, Sweileh, Zarqa, Azraq, and the Wadi See area. Other minorities include the Druze, who live near the Syrian border, and in Azraq, in the east of Jordan. Several thousand Armenians live mainly in Amman, and a very small minority of Turkomans and Bahais are found in the northern Jordan Valley. The latter came to Jordan from Iran in 1910. Jordan’s population includes a relatively small number of Chechen Caucasians who moved to Jordan from Grozny in the late nineteenth century. Currently, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates (Ajlun, Amman, Aqaba, Balqa, Irbid, Jerash, Karak, Ma’an, Madaba, Mafraq, Tafilah, and Zarqa), each of which is ruled by a governor appointed directly by the king. The major cities of Jordan are Amman (2.1 million people), the capital, which is located in the northeast of the country, and the north of which are Irbid and Az Zarqa (the two largest cities after Amman) . Speech-Language Services in Jordan In an article about the strategies of disability in Jordan, written by Suheir Bushnaq, a journalist in Alrai Daily Newspaper, published on January 01, 2007, it was reported that the number of residential and reha

FAQs

When were Jordan’s first master’s and bachelor’s programs in speech-language pathology established?

The first master’s program was established at the University of Jordan in 1992. The first bachelor’s program in SLP was established in 1992 at the private Applied Sciences University in Amman.

What licensing and workforce counts for related professions are reported in the paper?

The paper reports licensing records from Jordan’s Ministry of Health, including licensed speech-language pathologists and technician speech-language pathologists, plus licensed and technician-audiologists and assistant technician audiologists. It also notes that the number of ASHA-certified Jordanian SLPs is around 15.

What actions does the paper recommend to further advance the profession in Jordan?

It recommends more financial support for rigorous research, developing a code of ethics, establishing more centers nationwide to serve people with communication disorders, and creating a professional association to regulate and promote the profession at all levels.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Mabel