Speech and language are complex abilities that require a lot of practice. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) treat people with difficulty developing or using these skills due to illness or injury.
SLPs work in many settings, including schools, hospitals, and rehabilitative agencies. They may also choose to work in private practice. Visit https://www.mychildstherapy.com/ to learn more.
The education requirements for speech-language pathologists vary by state. In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required. Many SLPs earn a bachelor’s in a field related to communication disorders, including, but not limited to, psychology, education, linguistics, and human development. A related bachelor’s degree is particularly helpful for those who plan to continue on to graduate school in the future.
Once a bachelor’s degree is earned, a master’s in speech-language pathology or audiology from a CAA-accredited program is the next step. Depending on the state, some programs also require a clinical fellowship. During this part of the program, SLPs gain experience under the guidance of an experienced speech-language pathologist. Typically, the fellowship will last for one year. During this time, students will learn how to work with patients and treat their various communication disorders.
Most states require that a speech-language pathologist pass a certification exam and complete a supervised clinical fellowship before they can receive state licensure. The exam, called the Praxis, is administered by ASHA and costs several hundred dollars. After passing the Praxis, speech-language pathologists can apply for licensure with their respective state’s board of speech-language pathology and audiology.
Some states require SLPs to have a certain number of continuing education (CE) hours in order to renew their license. These CE hours may include coursework on various topics, such as new research in communication disorders or techniques for treating different types of communication disorders.
In addition to meeting education and licensing requirements, speech-language pathologists must also obtain appropriate professional liability insurance. Most major insurers offer special coverage for this type of profession.
As the demand for qualified professionals continues to rise, so too does the career outlook for SLPs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth rate for this profession is expected to be above average in the next ten years. The career is also attractive to those who enjoy working with people and helping others overcome obstacles in their lives. If you’re interested in learning more about the career, request information from Elmhurst today.
Clinical Skills
Speech-Language Pathologists work with patients whose problems range from the mild to severe. They must have a variety of clinical skills to effectively diagnose and treat their patients, which can include providing therapy, counseling, training and teaching. They must also be able to adapt their approach depending on the patient’s age and needs.
While hard clinical skills are taught through a challenging master’s program and supervised clinical fellowship, soft skills are just as important. These include compassion, persistence and a desire to help people improve their quality of life. Patience and empathy are especially valuable when working with medically complex patients.
In addition to their clinical and technical abilities, medical speech language pathologists must also have the ability to communicate effectively with their clients. They must be able to teach and explain complicated information in ways that are understandable to their patients. They must also be able to counsel their patients on how to cope with their condition, which can involve emotional distress.
Many medical speech pathologists specialize in specific areas, such as child language or disorders of fluency and swallowing. They must pass specialty certification exams to earn the title of board certified specialist. In addition, they must have basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification to work in some states.
Medical speech language pathologists often work closely with other health care professionals, such as neurologists, audiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists and otolaryngologists. These partnerships can offer valuable opportunities for professional development and the opportunity to learn new techniques in treating speech disorders.
Aside from specializing in certain types of speech disorders, many SLPs are called on in business, entertainment and other professions to modify or eliminate unwanted accents. For example, Dustin Hoffman was coached by an SLP to speak with a Southern accent in his role in “Tootsie.”
Because they deal with such a wide range of conditions and symptoms, SLPs must have the flexibility and willingness to work in a variety of settings. They may need to travel to client homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers to provide treatment. They must also be willing to adjust their schedules and work at night or on weekends as necessary.
Interpersonal Skills
Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, evaluate and treat people who have communication disorders, including stuttering and apraxia. They help patients of all ages, from infants to elderly adults. Often, they work with other professionals on an interdisciplinary team to care for their clients, such as teachers, audiologists, psychologists and social workers. SLPs also may be involved in education, researching and developing new methods and equipment to diagnose speech and language disorders and establish more effective treatments.
Interpersonal skills, like empathetic listening, are crucial for SLPs to have, as they must be able to empathize with their patients and understand the emotional and psychological impact of having a communication disorder. They must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with their clients, as well as their colleagues.
SLPs must have good organizational skills, as they’re responsible for creating and adhering to individual treatment plans, which require detailed documentation. They also must be able to keep track of appointments and other patient information, so they can provide their patients with the best possible care.
Since SLPs are exposed to so many different types of cases, it’s important that they be able to adapt their techniques for each patient. For example, a patient who has apraxia may respond better to an activity that involves repetition of sounds than an activity that requires the use of motor muscles.
While it’s common for SLPs to work in school systems, health care facilities and private practice, some choose to specialize in particular areas. They may focus on disorders affecting the child’s language and literacy development, apraxia or stuttering in children or voice and resonance problems.
For some SLPs, this means working with special education students in a classroom setting, as well as developing individualized education programs and collaborating with school staff to ensure their students’ speech and language goals are being met. For others, this means evaluating and treating patients in hospital rehabilitation units, nursing homes and other medical facilities. They may have to travel between facilities, depending on where they’re assigned. In addition, they often must coordinate care with other medical and rehabilitation specialists, such as occupational therapists and physical therapists.
Communication Skills
Speech-Language Pathologists must be able to communicate the research, data and therapeutic methods they use with their clients in easily understandable terms. They need to be able to set manageable developmental goals for their patients and teach them about helpful linguistic tools, ways to cope with emotional stress and how to better communicate with others. These soft skills are not innately learned in school, but must be developed over time as SLPs build upon their experience.
A bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders or a related field prepares students for the work of a speech-language pathologist. Graduate programs typically include coursework in areas such as child language disorders, apraxia, adult language disorders and swallowing physiology, in addition to clinical training. Students should choose an accredited program to qualify for CCC-SLP certification and state licensure.
In addition to their clinical expertise, SLPs must be able to effectively collaborate with the individuals they treat and their families. They may also need to coordinate with other professionals, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists and teachers.
SLPs often spend considerable time assessing the quality of their clients’ communication abilities. They must be able to accurately identify the nature of a client’s speech, language or swallowing problem and determine how serious it is. They must then develop a treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each individual, taking into account their goals and abilities.
When assessing the quality of a client’s communication, SLPs must be able to determine whether the breakdown is at the level of understanding (cognitive-communication) or the ability to convey meaning (language). A speech therapist with an extensive knowledge of the underlying structure of the human communication system can use a variety of assessment tools to make the most accurate assessment possible.
People with articulation disorders have difficulty using their muscles correctly to produce sounds when they speak. Cognitive-communication disorders cause people to have trouble with their attention, perception, thought organization, memory and other functions that affect how they understand and express themselves. Swallowing disorders involve a person having difficulty eating and drinking, due to an illness or injury, and are classified by the extent of the impairment (impairment-level). SLPs must be familiar with all of these types of communication- and swallowing-related problems in order to provide the most appropriate and effective treatment for their clients.
