Wall of Fame: Recognizing Janani Jeyaraman's Stellar Contribution to Speech-Language Pathology

May 2, 2017
4 min read

Updated: Jul 2

Recognizing Janani Jeyaraman’s Stellar Contribution

One of the best parts of this job is getting to meet the finest people in the field — and recently, a conversation with an old college classmate reminded me why. In honor of SLP Day, we're proud to introduce you to Janani Jeyaraman and recognize her remarkable contribution to Speech-Language Pathology.

Meet Janani Jeyaraman

Speech-Language Pathologist. Clinical Manager. Author. Researcher. Entrepreneur. Janani wears all of these hats, and wears them well. With 8 years of experience working across Cochlear Implant Programs powered by MED-EL in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, she's built a career defined by both depth and range.

She holds the distinction of being the first Speech Pathologist to earn the LSLS Cert AVT certification, has meaningful published research to her name, and authored MED-EL Rehabilitation Academy: Desk Reference for CI Rehabilitation Professionals — a resource now used by rehabilitation professionals in the field.

Alongside her clinical work, Janani co-founded the Athreya Foundation with her sister, an NGO dedicated to supporting underprivileged children with special needs.

Here's an excerpt from our conversation with her.

A Day in the Life of a Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation Specialist

Q: What does a typical day at work look like for you?

There isn't really a "typical" day — I'm often visiting different centers, which is honestly one of the best parts of the job. Some days start as early as 3:00 AM, others wrap up as late as 11:00 PM. When I visit a center, I get to work directly with professionals and parents, supporting them however I can to help their child get the best possible outcome with a cochlear implant.

On Working Closely with Families

Q: You work very closely with people on a daily basis. What challenges come up when trying to help families move forward?

Not every family follows our recommendations exactly as given, and that's understandable. What I've found is that when we thoroughly explain the relevance of a chosen goal and build the plan together, in agreement with the family, cooperation and success both tend to follow. Some families simply need time to process the stress that comes with disability — being patient and being a genuinely active listener matters enormously in those moments.

Balancing Extensive Travel with Personal Life

Q: You travel extensively for work. Does that affect your personal life?

I get asked this a lot. Travel does bring some minor inconveniences, but I've chosen not to let those weigh me down. Meeting so many different kinds of people through my work has actually made me wiser, and it's shifted my perspective on life in ways I'm genuinely grateful for.

Founding the Athreya Foundation

Q: You run an NGO for children — how did that idea come about, and does being an SLP help you manage it?

I believe every child deserves access to quality, creative learning opportunities. Unfortunately, children with complex needs — particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds — often don't have access to the kind of nurturing learning environment that, say, my own nephew has. My sister and I felt strongly that closing that gap needed to become our focus, and that's how the Athreya Foundation was born. It's still early days, but we hope to grow and support more children as we move forward.

Growth Prospects for Speech-Language Pathologists in India

Q: What do you see as the growth prospects for SLPs in India?

When I was doing my Master's in Speech-Language Pathology, I assumed the career path led to a private clinic, a hospital, or academia — and that was about it. I ended up being the first SLP to work as a rehabilitation specialist with a hearing implant manufacturer, which was genuinely uncharted territory. I was skeptical about where that path would take me, but I took the leap — and I haven't regretted it once.

Advice for Aspiring Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists

Q: What advice would you give young people pursuing Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology as a career?

"Advice" feels like a big word for it — I'd rather share the philosophy that guides my practice: every family we support should leave a session feeling a genuine sense of confidence and success.

This interview was conducted by our founder, Pratiksha Gupta.

At 1SpecialPlace, our personalized online speech therapy works for people of all ages and conditions — and it's convenient, effective, and genuinely enjoyable. Many of our clients tell us they don't feel like they're "doing therapy work" at all during their sessions.

Know someone who deserves a spot on the 1SpecialPlace Wall of Fame? Email us at info@1specialplace.com — we'd love to hear about them.

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