Speech Therapist Job Description
Sometimes known as speech-language pathologists, speech therapists prevent, diagnose, and treat speech, communication, and swallowing disorders. They work in healthcare or educational sectors, treating adults and children. Speech Therapists also help rehabilitate those who have experienced physical or psychological trauma.
- Completely free trial, no card required.
- Reach over 250 million candidates.
Asha Ad Hoc Joint Committee With The National Association Of Teachers Of Singing And The Voice And Speech Trainers Association
About this Document
This is an official joint technical report of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , the National Association of Teachers of Singing , and the Voice and Speech Trainers Association . Members of the Ad Hoc Joint Committee With the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Voice and Speech Trainers Association responsible for developing this statement were ASHA Special Interest Division 3, Voice and Voice Disorders representatives Mary Sandage , Janet Graves-Wright, Reinhardt Heuer, Katherine Verdolini, and Michelle Ferketic . NATS representatives were Jean Westerman Gregg and Ingo Titze. VASTA representatives were Kate DeVore and Bonnie Raphael. Celia Hooper, vice president for professional practices , served as monitoring vice president for ASHA.
ASHA, NATS, and VASTA recognize that there is a variety of possible configurations for such teams: Some ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists may be experienced teachers of singing who are members of NATS and/or qualified voice and speech trainers. Similarly, there may be some otolaryngologists who hold ASHA certification in speech-language pathology or who are members of NATS or VASTA. And there are also a number of voice and speech trainers who are members of ASHA and/or NATS. However, ASHA, NATS, and VASTA recognize that such multiple specialization is rare and that in most cases, the management team will need to consist of at least three individuals.
What Does An Slp Do In A School
Speech-language pathologists working in education settings constitute 38% of all SLPs, according to the BLS. Education settings include pre-kindergarten, K12 public and private schools, and colleges and universities.
SLPs who work in early childhood education settings employ intervention strategies and support students throughout their learning cycles. It is also important for school-based SLPs to advise and work with educators and administrators. This ensures that students communication challenges are addressed holistically, so as not to disrupt their learning.
A school-based SLP or speech teachers key responsibilities may include the following:
The first step to becoming an SLP and achieving your career goals is earning a Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders . To learn more about the Speech@Emerson program, including its length, a look into our online campus and what to expect of immersion experiences, visit our Speech@Emerson program page, contact the admissions team by phone at 855-997-0407 or send an email to .
Read Also: Speech For Celebration Of Life
What Is The Average Salary Of A Speech Pathologist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a speech-language pathologist was $77,510 in 2018. However, salaries for SLPs vary significantly depending on work experience, educational level, and job setting.
ASHAs 2019 Annual Salary Report states that the median salary was $74,000 for SLP clinical service providers and $100,000 for SLP administrators or supervisors. The West was the U.S. region with the highest median salary, $85,000. SLPs with 20 or more years of experience received a median salary of $100,000.
The projected growth for SLP jobs is 27% from 2018 to 2028, which is much higher than the national average of 5%. With the rising demand for an estimated 41,900 new speech-language pathologists in the next ten years, its clear that a career in speech-language pathology is an excellent choice.
Due to the aging population, rising school enrollment, and increasing bilingualism in the United States, speech-language pathology is an in-demand medical profession with an extremely positive future job outlook. With opportunities to work in professional environments such as universities, hospitals, and research laboratories, speech-language pathologists have a wide variety of career options to choose from.
*The candidacy status includes the MS-SLP program offered at Austin, TX and Dallas, TX locations.
How Do I Know If Speech Therapy Is Necessary
If your healthcare provider suspects that you or your child has a speech disorder, theyll recommend some initial screenings. These tests will help determine the underlying cause. For example, if your child has trouble communicating, your healthcare provider will find out if its due to a speech disorder or a hearing problem. If your child passes the hearing test, then your healthcare provider will likely refer them to a speech-language pathologist.
Recommended Reading: Mac Text To Speech Voices
How Slps Fit Into An Individualized Education Plan
If youre unfamiliar with the term IEP, its an acronym that stands for individualized education program. This is designed for children who have special needs or need special education services in a public school setting.
SLPs play a crucial role in the public school system. They provide assessments for children who have issues with speech, language, and communication. By conducting evaluations, an SLP can identify kids who would benefit from additional speech and language services.
The great part about an IEP is that its uniquely created for each students specific needs. An SLP will be present when an IEP is made. So the SLP will come up with a plan based on the childs specific struggles or disorders. SLPs will explain the types of treatment they recommend and what outcomes should be expected through completion.
SLPs will work directly with parents, teachers, and educators when formalizing the IEP. Theyll tell parents what exercises can be done in the home setting and how often they should happen.
Depending on the diagnosis and specific situation, everyone will have to come to a consensus about when the therapy should occur. In some cases, the child might spend a certain portion of their day in a one-on-one or group session where theyre removed from the traditional classroom. In other cases, the speech therapy sessions may occur after school hours, so the general class environment isnt disrupted.
Reasons To See A Speech
If you or a loved one experience any of the following problems, it might be a good idea to seek out a speech-language pathologist.
Difficulty Communicating After an Injury or Illness
Speech therapy can help some people regain the ability to express wants and needs, build relationships, carry out daily tasks, and succeed in school or at work.
Difficulty Eating After an Injury or Illness
Swallowing therapy can strengthen the muscles used in eating, help adults relearn swallowing coordination, and teach ways to reduce the risk of aspiration .
Feeding Issues in Infants and Children
Babies and toddlers with swallowing disorders may have a pattern of fussiness at mealtimes, avoiding certain food textures or temperatures , congestion or vomiting after eating, or gagging during meals. Feeding therapy can teach chewing, sipping, and swallowing, overcome sensory aversions, and help children learn to eat independently and enjoy mealtimes.
Delayed Speech Development
If youâre concerned that your child might not be speaking or understanding speech at a level appropriate for their age, talk with your childâs doctor. They can refer you to a speech-language pathologist if your child needs to be evaluated. If a child does have a speech or language disorder, getting therapy early can help.
Show Sources
Also Check: No And Yes In Sign Language
Speech Therapist Job Description Template
We are searching for a flexible, resourceful speech therapist to join our team. The speech therapist’s responsibilities include performing patient assessments, developing individual treatment plans, liaising with teachers, family members, and other healthcare professionals, administering therapy and monitoring progress, and ensuring patients and their families are informed of new treatments and therapy techniques. You should also be able to work with patients from different backgrounds and be willing to make house calls.
To be successful as a speech therapist, you should be passionate about social and biological science, language, and human anatomy. Exceptional Speech Therapists are caring, adaptable, and able to use available resources to find solutions.
Speech Pathologist Skills And Qualifications
Skills and qualifications that will assist individuals looking to enter into a Speech Pathologist career include:
- Analytical skills for selecting the best diagnostic tools and analyzing results to identify an accurate diagnosis while developing an effective treatment plan.
- Communication skills for communicating diagnoses, test results and available treatments in terms that clients and their families can understand.
- Compassion when working with individuals frustrated by the difficulties they are experiencing.
- Critical thinking skills for adjusting treatment plans as required and identifying alternative ways to help.
- Attention to detail for maintaining notes on treatment and progress.
- Listening skills for listening to concerns and symptoms of clients so they can decide the most appropriate course of treatment.
Read Also: How Do You Change Language On Disney Plus
What Conditions Does A Speech
SLPs provide therapy for people with hearing loss, children with developmental delays, and people with communication and swallowing problems. They treat disorders such as:
Speech Disorders
These conditions make it difficult to produce sounds. Some examples include:
- â the brain has trouble directing the movements of the muscles used to speak
- articulation disorders â the inability to form certain sounds, such as âthâ or ârâ
- stuttering â when the flow of speech is broken by pauses and repetition
- resonance disorders â caused by an obstruction such as a cleft palate
- dysarthria â weakness in the muscles used in speech, caused by brain injury
Language Disorders
These may be receptive or expressive . Some examples are:
- aphasia â difficulty speaking or understanding others because of damage to the brain
- auditory processing disorder â the brain has trouble understanding the meaning of sounds
Cognitive-Communication Disorders
Usually the result of an injury to the brain that causes problems with memory, attention, organization, or reasoning, cognitive-communication disorders can make it difficult for a person to speak, listen, read, or write. Causes of cognitive-communication disorders include: traumatic brain injury, stroke, or dementia.
Social-Communication Disorders
How Much Does A Speech Pathologist Make
The national average salary for a speech pathologist is $82,728 per year. Exact salaries can vary according to your location, employer, experience, certifications and volume of clients. Speech pathologists who work independently or in a private practice may charge clients per session or hour and can work to control their overall salaries and income.
Related:Guide To Becoming a Speech Pathologist
You May Like: Speech And Language Pathology Salary
Occupational Employment And Wage Statistics
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.
Role In Middle School And High School
When working with older students, SLPs will typically shift to advanced vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Theyll also help the students create their own treatment plans. SLPs will explain the importance of treatments and how some exercises work better than others.
At this age, its important for the students to continue with self-therapy. SLPs can help these students prepare for real-world scenarios that theyll encounter outside of the education system and classroom environment.
Don’t Miss: Language Development 18 24 Months
What Education Is Required To Become A Speech Pathologist
To become a speech-language pathologist, you must first earn your bachelors degree in a related field of study, or otherwise complete leveling coursework if your bachelors degree is in another area. Aspiring SLPs then complete a specialized graduate program, such as a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, which typically takes two years.
After earning their degree, graduates usually complete a clinical fellowship year . SLPs often must apply for a temporary state license for speech pathology to practice during this fellowship. Most clinical fellowships last for 36 weeks, for a minimum of 35 hours per week.
Additionally, in some states, aspiring speech-language pathologists must complete the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology , administered through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association . The CCC-SLP is considered the gold-standard credential in the field.
Once their education is complete, candidates must pass the Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology to earn state licensure, among other requirements, depending on the state. If the educational program is in Candidate Accreditation status, graduates often need to obtain their CCC in order to apply to states to have their status recognized in the first place. Most students take the exam during their clinical fellowship year.
Conditions Addressed By Speech
Because the role of SLP can be so broad, the easiest way to understand it is to explore the specific types of conditions and problems that SLPs treat. These include:
- Speech disorders: This category includes any disorder or condition which causes an individual to have difficulty producing sounds. Stuttering, dysarthria, and ataxia of speech can all be considered speech disorders.
- Language disorders: These include any condition which causes an individual difficulty communicating with others. Language disorders include receptive as well as expressive language and can involve spoken or written language. Phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics are all involved.
- Social communication disorders: Individuals with these conditions have difficulty understanding and adhering to the rules of social communication, such as taking turns during a conversation or not interrupting others while they are speaking. Those on the autism spectrum or who have experienced traumatic brain injury commonly exhibit issues around social communication.
- Cognitive-communication disorders: These disorders cause individuals to have difficulty remembering, organizing their thoughts, paying attention, or problem-solving. Stroke, dementia, and traumatic brain injury are often common causes.
- Swallowing disorders: Difficulty feeding and swallowing, known as dysphagia, is common in those who have suffered from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or certain illnesses or other injuries.
Also Check: Wise Guy Text To Speech
The Guide To The Asha Speech Pathology Scope Of Practice
The ASHA scope of practice is an official policy document of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , covering the breadth of practice in speech-language pathology. It defines the job of certified speech language pathologists in the United Stateswhat they do, where they work, and how they help patients. Heres a summary of the scope of practiceand what it means for you as an aspiring SLP.
How Long Do You Need Speech Therapy
The answer to this question is different for everyone. It depends on several factors, including:
- Severity of the speech disorder.
- Underlying medical condition.
- Frequency of speech therapy.
Some speech disorders improve with age, while others may require long-term speech therapy. If a medical condition has caused your speech disorder, then your speech and language skills may improve as you recover from the underlying issue.
Also Check: Acts Of Service Love Language
What Is The Job Outlook For Speech Pathologists
Working as a speech pathologist can offer job security and the opportunity to pursue different roles in the field. The predicts a job outlook with an increase of 29% for speech-language pathologists between the years 2020 to 2030. This increase exceeds the average increase in demand for other occupations and predicts approximately 15,200 new speech pathologist openings.
The Role Of The Speech
- Have learned that SLPs understand oral language, the foundation to learning to read
- Be familiar with the areas of language and literacy in which SLPs have expertise
This is a very exciting time to work with a speech-language pathologist if your child has difficulties with listening, speaking, reading, spelling, and/or writing.
In the past SLPs worked on speech sound development and oral language understanding and use and the special educator or reading teacher worked on reading. This is no longer the case. SLPs’ roles and responsibilities have come a long way from the old days of articulation therapy. This is because we now understand the important and critical role that oral language development plays in learning to read and spell. Oral language skills are the foundation for learning to read. The American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association has outlined the SLP’s role in the remediation of literacy disabilities such as dyslexia.
As a parent of someone with dyslexia, you should know that SLPs are experts in oral language development, which as stated above serves as the foundation for learning to read, spell, and write. An SLP can be a great resource to you.
SLPs are trained in the following areas that affect learning to read, spell and write:
- Oral language comprehension and use
- Phonological processing, including phonemic awareness
You May Like: Sign For Please In Sign Language
The Role Of Speech Language Pathology In Special Education
Its not uncommon for kids to have trouble speaking or communicating. In fact, one in 12 children ages 3-17 will develop a speech, voice, or swallowing disorder. Many parents think that their kids will just grow out of it as they get older. But putting off treatment could have a long-term impact on a childs learning and social development.
Thats where speech-language pathology comes into play. Speech-language pathologists, better known as SLPs, can help kids with a wide range of speech problems, language issues, and other disorders. Throughout my career in special education, Ive worked alongside dozens of excellent SLPs. So I have tons of first-hand experience with the profession and how this role fits under the special education umbrella.
There are lots of different career paths in the speech-language pathology world, but if youre like me and passionate about helping kids, the education field will be your best option. Whether youre a parent, teacher, or interested in becoming an SLP, this guide is perfect for you. Ill explain exactly what a speech-language pathologist does and how this role translates to special education.
What Does A Speech Pathologist Do
Speech-language pathologists provide care to people with speech, language, cognition or swallowing impairments, from infants to older adults and everyone in between. If you are interested in a health care career that offers an array of specialties, practice settings or clientele, speech-language pathology may be the field for you. This resource will outline what a career in speech-language pathology entails, highlight the differences between a speech-language pathologist and speech therapist, and describe the different settings where SLPs offer their services.
Recommended Reading: How To Use Text To Speech On Google Docs