Dr Joseph is a Speech Therapist and Audiologist by training. She obtained her Bachelor of Speech and Hearing Therapy degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (former University of Durban Westville) in 1986. She completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria, obtaining her Master of Communication Pathology (Cum Laude) in 1999 and a PhD in 2009.
She has worked in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (1986-1992) and in the Department of Education (1992-1995). She joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 1995 as a lecturer in Speech Therapy and Audiology. Her academic career has been primarily in Audiology, where she has held the position of Head of Discipline over a number of years.
Dr Joseph has taught in various areas of the undergraduate Audiology programme, including diagnostic audiology, aural rehabilitation, and Sign Language and Deaf Culture. She also teaches extensively in the postgraduate programme supervising research at masters and PhD level, with strength in Evidence-Based Practice and Research Methodology. She serves as an External Examiner for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes including Masters and PhD studies in South Africa. She has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences, and published research in a variety of journals. She serves on the Editorial Board of the South African Journal of Communication Disorders. She is passionate about training audiologists to address the communication needs of individuals with hearing loss.
Research Interests
Paediatric audiology. Educational audiology. Paediatric and adult aural rehabilitation. Family Centred Intervention and Person Centred Care. Parent-child communication and deafness. South African Sign Language. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. Noise induced hearing loss. Ototoxicity.
List of Publications
Ndwandwe, T.P., & Joseph, L. (2025). Hard of hearing learners in a school for the deaf: A case study in the Eastern Cape province. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 72(1), a1089. https://doi.org/10.4102/ sajcd.v72i1.1089
Khan, N.B., & Joseph, L. (2024). Risk factors and hearing outcomes in infants and young children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 71(1), a1031. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/sajcd.v71i1.1031
Gontse, N.P & Joseph,L. (2022). Developing a Practice Guideline for enhancing communication in Hearing Families with Deaf Children. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences. Vol:16, No:12, 2022
Shezi, Z., & Joseph, L. (2021). Parental views on informational counselling provided by audiologists for children with permanent childhood hearing loss. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 68(1). Doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.799
Birdsey, B & Joseph, L (2021) Plurality of perspective: Doctor-parents of deaf children in a low-to middle-income country. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology,142,110610.
Khan, NB & Joseph, L (2020). Healthcare practitioners’ views about early hearing detection and intervention practices in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Child Health, 4, 4, 200-207.
Peter, V.Z, Paken, J & Joseph, L. (2020). An audiological profile of a cohort of school-aged children with HIV and AIDS attending an antiretroviral clinic in South Africa. South African Journal of Communication Disorders | Vol 67, No 1 | a651 | https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.651
Khan, N.B, Adhikari, M & Joseph. L. (2018). The hearing screening experiences and practices of primary health care nurses: Indications for referral based on high risk factors and community beliefs about hearing loss. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine;10(1), a1848. https:// doi.org/10.4102/phcfm. v10i1.1848
Blose, Z.M & Joseph, L. (2017). The reality of everyday communication for a deaf child using sign language in a developing country. African Health Sciences, 17,4, 1149-1159.
Bagwandin, V., & Joseph, L. (2017). A survey exploring awareness and experience of tinnitus in young adults. South African Journal of Communication Disorders 64(1), a545. https://doi. org/10.4102/sajcd.v64
Appana, D, Joseph, L . & Paken J, 2016 . An audiological profile of patients infected with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis at a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 63(1),a154.http://dx,dio.org/10.4102/sajcd.v63i1.154
Makhoba, M & Joseph, L. (2016). Practices and views of Audiologists regarding Aural Rehabilitation services for adults with acquired hearing loss. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 63(1),a155.http://dx,dio.org/10.4102/sajcd.v63i1.155
Joseph L, Alant, E & Borman, J, (2008). The influence of sign graphics on the learning of signs. Proceedings of 13th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication , 2-7 August 2008, Montreal, Canada.
Harty, M., Joseph, L. Wilder, J. & Rajaram, P. (2007). Social support and families of children with disabilities: towards positive family functioning. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 37, 3, 18-21.
L (Neethie). 2004. Developing Literacy skills in deaf children: a case for early communication and parent involvement. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Deaf Education. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 14-15 September 2001.
Joseph, L. & Alant, E. (2000). Strangers in the house? Communication between mothers and their hearing impaired children who sign. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 47, 15-24.
Joseph, L (2000). Bilingual education for deaf children: the challenge to the professions of speech- language pathology and audiology. Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Communication Disorders in Multilingual Populations. 18- 21 July 2000. Kwa Maritane Pilanesburg National Park. South Africa.
Masters Dissertation: Perceptions of mothers of children at schools for the deaf in Durban with reference to the use of sign language. (1998) University of Pretoria.
PhD Thesis: The impact of using theme-based graphic communication displays in teaching signs to mothers of deaf children. (2008). University of Pretoria.
