What Do Speech Language Pathologists Do

Where Do Slps Work

SLPs work in a variety of environments, such as hospitals, residential care facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics, schools, and private therapy practices. Educational settings are, by far, the most common employers of speech therapists.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 38 percent of SLPs work for state, local, or private educational facilities, while 22 percent practice in occupational, speech, physical, or auditory therapy offices.

What Is Early Intervention

Just as the name implies, early intervention focuses on the development of children aged 0-3. While some parents and caregivers may feel like this is too early to address speech and language needs, research clearly indicates that these are crucial years of development and that therapy enhances important skills during this stage. Speech therapists that focus on early intervention cover a variety of concerns, such as feeding, language development, play skills, attention, and speech.

Feeding therapy can begin in infancy and help with the transition from bottle feeding to table foods, especially for a child that has a cleft palate. An early intervention therapist can also help increase a childs tolerance for oral feeding as they transition from tube feeding, such as a nasogastric tube.

Speech therapists also work with families to develop their childs attention and play skills. While it might look like the therapist is simply playing with your child, purposeful play is essential to helping expand a childs language skills, improve their ability to express their wants and needs, and more. Therapists use targeted play, and teach families how to incorporate these techniques at home, to develop necessary skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and using words and gestures to communicate.

Slps In Private Practice

Not all SLPs work in schools. Some work in a medical setting, like a childrens hospital. Others may also have a private practice.

People hire an SLP in private practice for different reasons. One is that theyre not happy with their childs progress at school. Another is that they want more sessions with an SLP than their child is receiving through the IEP.

But paying for an SLP can be expensive. Some may offer a sliding scale payment. That means you pay a fee thats based on your income. Some SLPs oversee services at university clinics, which can be low-cost or free.

Here are some things to ask about before hiring an SLP:

• Does the SLP have training and experience in the types of challenges the child has?

• Does the SLP have an advanced degree and a license to practice in the state?

• Does the SLP specialize in treating a certain age group?

• What is the SLPs approach, and is it a good fit for the child? Is the SLP willing to use the childs school materials or similar resources in the sessions?

Discover resources for finding local specialists.

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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 , contact the admissions team by phone at 855-997-0407 or send an email to .

Early Intervention And K12 Schools

More than half of speech-language pathologists are employed in educational settings. Speech-language pathologists employed in educational settings may work in infant and toddler programs, preschools, and elementary and secondary schools.

Speech-language pathologists working in early intervention may do any of the following jobs:

• Address feeding disorders in infants and toddlers
• Provide parent education and training for promoting language development in toddlers
• Visit day care centers and other preschool settings to provide services to children with receptive and expressive language delays

Speech-language pathologists working in K12 schools may do any of the following jobs:

• Provide language therapy to help children follow directions and answer questions
• Collaborate with teachers to develop literacy skills in students, focusing on both letter-sound skills and vocabulary development
• Help students with autism work on job skills to transition to work settings

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Ready To Start Your Journey

• Speech-language pathologists help people with communication disorders.
• These professionals typically hold a master’s degree from an accredited program.
• Internships and fellowships can give speech-language pathology students practical experience.
• Most states require speech-language pathologists to earn a license.

Speech-language pathologists diagnose, treat, and prevent communication and swallowing disorders in adults and childrens. Successful pathologists possess critical thinking skills, compassion, patience, and a desire to help others.

These professionals need a master’s degree and a license to work in most states. Speech-language pathologists can find work in schools, hospitals, and offices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there were about 162,600 jobs in this field in 2019.

How Do I Find A Speech

To find a specialist, ask your child’s doctor or teacher for a referral, check local directories online, or search on ASHA’s website. State associations for speech-language pathology and audiology also keep listings of licensed and certified therapists.

Your child’s SLP should be licensed in your state and have experience working with kids and your child’s specific disorder.

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What Are Some Speech Therapy Techniques I Can Try At Home

Kids and adults alike can practice speech therapy techniques at home. Your healthcare provider can recommend exercises for your specific condition. Some general techniques for children and adults include:

Speech therapy techniques for children

Activities to try with your child at home:

Speech therapy techniques for adults

Adults with speech disorders can also benefit from at-home exercises. You can try:

• Tongue exercises. Stick your tongue out, hold for two seconds, then bring it back in. Repeat this process several times. You can also try this same exercise, but move your tongue to each corner of your mouth for two seconds. Finally, move your tongue up and down in the same fashion. These exercises help train your tongue to move in coordinated patterns.
• Smiling. Simply smiling in front of a mirror can help improve motor skills. Smile. Relax. Smile again. Repeat this process several times.
• Puckering your lips. Try puckering your lips, then relaxing. Repeat this several times. This can help you control the movement of your mouth.
• Reading out loud. If your speech disorder prevents you from moving your mouth and tongue properly, reading out loud can be excellent practice. Start out with a few small sentences and work your way up from there.
• Playing word games. Studies have shown that memory games, word searches and crossword puzzles can help maintain cognitive function and improve thinking skills.

How To Become An Asha

Licensure requirements for SLPs vary by state, but to become a speech-language pathologist, a masters degree in the field is typically required.4

To obtain ASHA certification as a speech-language pathologist, you are required to complete the following:5

The Clinical Fellowship is a mentored professional experience that must be completed before a graduate can practice independently.6 The CF experience is typically completed in 36 weeks of full-time employment, but it can be completed part time by working a minimum of five hours per week until equivalent hours are met.

State licensure is required for practice. Requirements vary by state but typically do not exceed ASHAs minimum requirements.

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When A Child Might Need See A Speech

Children see speech-language pathologists for a variety of reasons, including difficulty:

• Feeding or swallowing unable to safely eat or drink age-appropriate foods and liquids
• Articulating certain sounds
• With fluent speech stuttering
• Using words, phrases, and sentences to communicate at an age appropriate level needs help using words to communicate and/or turning words into phrases
• Understanding information such as directions or questions needs help understanding words spoken to them
• Organizing information and regulating behavior

Follow your childs communication milestones and more!

• 2-3 year milestones

The History Of Speech

Speech-pathology as a recognized field of study had its origins in the early part of the twentieth century, when the scientific, academic, and clinical foundations began to take shape and a number of organizations focused on speech disorders and speech correction were established.

From 1945 to 1965, speech-language pathology began to evolve, thanks to the introduction of a number of assessment and therapy approaches focused on underlying communication disorders. It was during this time that speech-language pathology researchers and clinicians began focusing their attention on the many WWII soldiers returning from war with brain injuries resulting in aphasia.

This period also gave rise to brain studies, technological advances, and the development of standardized testing procedures, including receptive and expressive language assessment and treatment techniques.

Between 1965 and 1975, advancements in linguistics spurred researchers to begin distinguishing language disorders from speech disorders. Their work enhanced the work of speech-language pathologists, allowing them to begin more effectively treating a variety of language delays and disorders.

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Do You Enjoy Working With People

A career as an SLP will involve working intimately with people from diverse backgrounds. Plus, depending on your work environment, you may have clients of all ages as well. Consider whether youll be comfortable in a hands-on role that requires a great deal of one-on-one interaction. Speech therapists need to possess these key traits:

• Listening and communication skills
• Resourcefulness and creativity
• Adaptability

Since speech therapists mainly treat developmental disorders, they must also be excited to work with children. These professionals diagnose problems that typically manifest in early childhood, such as difficulty forming sounds, organizing thoughts, coordinating speech motor functions, and understanding verbal and nonverbal cues.

No matter what setting you work in, compassion and interpersonal skills are necessary to succeed. Many clients will have multiple obstacles affecting their ability to communicate, and its the role of a speech therapist to assess their individual needs and develop effective treatment plans. If you prefer not to work closely with others, a related research field might be a better fit.

Register now for an online information session.

How Much Do Speech

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , speech-language pathologists earn an average salary of approximately $80,500 per year. The number of SLPs is expected to grow roughly 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, adding more than 40,000 positions. This growth is much faster than the four percent growth expected for all occupations in total over the same timeframe.

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Earn A Master’s Degree In Speech Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists typically need a master’s degree to work in their field. Most master’s programs take two years to complete.

Through coursework and practicum experience, graduate students typically learn about speech and language development, speech disorders unique to specific age groups, and swallowing physiology. They also acquire skills in research methods and clinical service delivery. Prospective students might consider programs that provide study abroad opportunities and specialized clinical training.

Many speech pathologist programs offer concentrations in areas like autism spectrum disorders, aphasia, child language disorders, swallowing disorders, and fluency disorders.

To gain licensure in speech-language pathology, prospective students should make sure the program they enroll in holds the proper accreditation. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers accreditation through their Council on Academic Accreditation.

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• Bachelor’s degree in CSD or related field
• Minimum 3.00 GPA

• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech
• Communication Disorders

• Swallowing Disorders

By Step: How To Become A Speech Pathologist

To become a speech pathologist, learners must graduate from accredited undergraduate and graduate programs. Most programs include a graduate-level internship or fellowship.

After graduation, qualified candidates obtain a license based on state requirements. Many professionals pursue the speech-language pathology certificate of clinical competence .

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What Speech Pathologists Do

SLPs work with people across the life span with many types of conditions and needs, including the following:

• Acquired conditions such as brain injuries and strokes
• Congenital conditions such as cerebral palsy and cleft lip and palate
• Developmental anomalies in speech and language
• Speech differences in areas such as accent and transgender voice modification

Because swallowing and speech use the same musculature, SLPs are considered to be the preferred providers for both speech and swallowing disorders.2

Are You Suited To Be A Speech Language Pathologist

Speech language pathologists have distinct personalities. They tend to be social individuals, which means theyre kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly. They excel at socializing, helping others, and teaching. Some of them are also investigative, meaning theyre intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if speech language pathologist is one of your top career matches.

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Why Do Some Kids Need Speech

Kids might need speech-language therapy for many reasons, including:

• hearing impairments
• cognitive or other developmental delays
• weak oral muscles
• feeding and swallowing disorders
• traumatic brain injury

Therapy should begin as soon as possible. Children who start therapy early tend to have better results than those who begin later.

This doesn’t mean that older kids won’t do well in therapy. Their progress might be slower, though, because they have learned patterns that need to be changed.

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.

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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

Ashas Certificate Of Clinical Competence In Speech

ASHA certification as an SLP means that you have completed their requirements and earned the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology . This nationally recognized professional credential indicates that you have met rigorous academic and professional standards that may exceed the minimum requirements for state licensure.

Speech-language pathology is constantly evolving, and SLPs must be lifelong learners. Continuing education is required by both ASHA and some state licensing boards to maintain certification, ensuring that practitioners are staying up to date with advances in the field and taking an evidence-based approach to care.

Several English-speaking countries participate alongside the United States in the Mutual Recognition Agreement with ASHA, making it possible for ASHA-certified SLPs to obtain equivalent licensure to work in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.7

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Where Do Speech Pathologists Practise

Speech pathologists work across a range of health settings including hospitals, schools, community health centres, residential and aged care facilities, disability services, mental health facilities, juvenile justice centres and private clinics.

Services provided by government or not for profit organisations may be free of charge though there is often a waiting list for public services. Private services are provided by speech pathologists who may work in a sole practice or with other speech pathologists and in multidisciplinary practices.

Who Gives Speech

Speech-language pathologists , often called speech therapists, are educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. SLPs assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills. This lets them identify a problem and the best way to treat it.

SLPs have:

• at least a master’s degree
• state certification/licensure in the field
• a certificate of clinical competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

An ASHA-certified SLP has passed a national exam and completed an ASHA-accredited supervised clinical fellowship.

Sometimes, speech assistants help give speech-language services. They usually have a 2-year associate’s or 4-year bachelor’s degree, and are supervised by an SLP.

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