Speech - Language Pathologist

Speech-language pathologists help people with speech, language, and communication problems. Helping people gives many speech pathologists a feeling of accomplishment. There are many different areas you can specialize in when you choose speech-language pathologist as a career.

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What Is A Speech- Language Pathologist?
A speech-language pathologist is also known as a language pathologist or speech pathologist. A speech-language pathologist is a highly trained professional that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of people with communication problems. This includes receptive or understanding speech and expressive communication problems or speaking. A speech-language pathologist may also help people with eating and swallowing difficulties. Swallowing disorders can come from cancer of the mouth or throat. Head injuries can interfere with swallowing, speech clarity, understanding, and expressions. Strokes can also cause problems speaking clearly, swallowing, and expressing one’s thoughts. Speech, language and cognitive communication, and swallowing skills are assessed by the speech pathologist, so they can conclude what types of communication problems their patients are having. Then the best treatment will be given. The diagnosis and remediation procedures cover all forms and degrees of communication disorders. This includes people with mild speech defects to people who have no speech. Written and oral tests are used to diagnose the problem and the extent of impairment. Special instruments are also used. Speech, language, and swallowing irregularities are recorded and tested.

Augmentative or alternative communications methods for individuals with little or no speech capabilities may be used. This includes automated devices and sign languages. The language pathologist will teach their patients how to use them. They also teach patients other ways to communicate well, such as improving their voices and how to make sounds. Other things that are taught are compensatory strategies or ways to fortify muscles, so patients can swallow without choking or inhaling food or liquid. Patients will learn how to control or strengthen their tongue, jaw, face muscles, and breathing mechanisms. Language pathologists help their patients develop or recover communication and swallowing skills, so they can accomplish education, vocation, and social roles. An individualized plan of care is made according to each patient’s needs.

The practice of speech language pathology involves prevention, screening, consultation, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, management, and counseling. It’s very important to keep records on each patient that is evaluated, his or her progress, and discharge. This will help prevent problems if there are questions about what kind of treatment was given and the cost of the treatment.

Types Of Speech And Language Disorders
Articulation disorders or phonetic disorders is saying or not forming words correctly. It is distorting, substituting, or adding sounds, so others can’t understand what’s being said. Most speech and language disorders are articulatory problems. Resonance or voice disorders have to do with pitch, volume, or quality of a child’s voice. The two most common types of resonance disorders are hypernasal and hyponasal. Hypernasal is when too much air comes out the nasal passage when a child is speaking. This is common with children born with a cleft-lip and palate. Hyponasal occurs when there is not enough air coming out of the nasal passage when speaking. This is usually due to a blockage such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids. There may be other reasons for resonance disorders. Fluency disorders are another type of speech and language disorder. It is a disruption or interruption in the smoothness of speech productions. A fluency disorder is also known as stuttering in which the flow of speech may be repetitive, have abnormal stoppage, or prolonged sounds and syllables. People of all ages can be affected, but it usually begins in childhood. A speech-language pathologist will be able to evaluate your child if you think he or she may have a fluency disorder.

Education
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has educational requirements for students. They need to receive extensive educational training including instruction in the classroom and clinical practice due to the difficulty and importance of this type of career. There are approximately 233 colleges and universities that offer graduate programs in speech-language pathology. Graduate educations are mandated by ASHA. The ASHA also requires speech-language pathologists to obtain the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, which involves the completion of a master’s degree. Before you can acquire a CCC, you’ll need a graduate degree and 375 hours of supervised clinical experience. You’ll also need to complete a 36-week postgraduate clinical fellowship and pass the Praxis series examination in speech-language pathology. If you plan on academic teaching or research in a university, then you’ll need a doctoral level of qualification or considerable experience. There are 48 states that require language pathologists to be licensed.

A speech therapist can develop expertise in certain areas after they attain clinical experience and are continuing professional education. Some areas of expertise are language delays and disorders, articulation/speech sound deficits, and auditory processing disorders. Some of the many specialty areas are pediatrics, intellectual, voice therapy, and physical disability, as well as child language, fluency, feeding, or swallowing.

There are many subjects you’ll learn about when you receive an education in this language pathology field. One subject is psychology, or the knowledge of human behavior and performance. You should be able to tell the difference in ability, personality, and interests of your patients. You’ll also become skilled at assessing and treating behavioral and effective disorders. You’ll learn about medicine and dentistry, which will give you knowledge about the techniques you need to use so you can diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. Sociology and anthropology is another subject you learn about. This subject will help increase your awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity and social differences. It will also increase your knowledge of group behavior and dynamics. Customer service knowledge will help you learn the values and processes for providing good customer and personal service. You’ll also be taught everything about the computer such as hardware, circuit boards, and electronic equipment.

Working Conditions
Working conditions for a language pathologist may be different, because there is a wide range of employment settings. Work schedules may also be very heavy. Most working conditions are pleasant. Most of the rooms are well stocked with testing and treatment equipment and materials. Work is usually done at a desk or table with comfortable surroundings. If your job is at a school, you may work with the students in the classroom or in an office. Speech-language pathologists or language pathologists also can work in a medical setting where they’ll work at the patient’s bedside.

This type of career is not physically demanding, except for long periods of time sitting, but it does require intense concentration. You should also be able to handle the emotional needs of clients and their families. A typical workday is usually 8 hours and 5 days a week. If you’re working full time, it will be at least 35 to 40 hours a week. If you work in a private practice, you may also work evenings or weekends. There are part-time jobs available, if that is what you prefer. You may have to travel between locations or facilities, if you’re on a contract basis.

It is important to be able to work not only by yourself, but also with work groups. Information may have to be provided to supervisors, co-workers, and others. Helping others overcome communication disabilities can be a very rewarding career.

Abilities
Speech-language pathologists need the ability to recognize and clearly understand speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language and rules of composition is needed. Excellent grammar skills are also important. Excellent hearing ability is required to interpret the difference between sounds that contrast between pitch and loudness. When there are sounds around you that are distracting, you should be able to focus on a single source of auditory information. Outstanding oral comprehension and oral expression are part of being a good language pathologist. Oral comprehension isn’t only the ability to listen, but to really understand the information that’s being presented through spoken words. Communicating information in a clear and concise manner that others will understand is oral expression.

Language pathologists can also use inductive reasoning in their job. Inductive reasoning is the ability to apply pieces of information, such as ideas and observations presented in writing. It’s also helpful to use deductive reasoning, which is the ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

You also have to be knowledgeable about the variety of equipment you’ll use when diagnosing and treating patients with speech, voice, and swallowing problems. Some of the equipment are computers with related software and transducers, so you can analyze speech and breathing irregularities. You can also use a video-stroboscope that visualizes voice and swallowing difficulties.

Skills
Therapy and counseling skills are very important when you’re a language pathologist. This includes knowledge and understanding of procedures and methods needed for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions. Excellent speaking skill is necessary so the information you’re conveying can be clearly understood by the patient. This goes along with active listening, so you can give your full attention to what others are saying. Social perceptiveness is another important skill. You should understand why others react to things in a certain way. You also need to be sensitive to people’s problems, so you can tell if something is wrong. This doesn’t mean you have to solve the problem but you need to recognize that there is a problem. Instructing skills are also needed. Use different approaches and learning strategies when selecting and using instructional methods or teaching new things.

Time management can help you manage your time and the time of others effectively. You can write down everything you need to do for the day or want to accomplish. Over scheduling your day is not using good time management. Planning will help you define your priorities. Critical or productive thinking can help you be successful in a speech pathologist career. You can make purposeful and reasoned judgments to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions and problems.

Personal Qualities
A speech language therapist needs to have above average verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills, since the main focus of this type of work is communication. You have the ability to encourage and motivate your patients to change the way to do things. You need to be a patient and supportive kind of person. A compassionate and tolerant personality is important, because sometimes a patient’s progress is slow. Precise listening skills are also necessary. Spending time with people should be enjoyable, since you’ll be treating people of all ages, lifestyles, and cultural backgrounds.

You should be qualified physically and intellectually. It’s necessary to have normal hearing and no speech defects. A commitment to your job is an important attribute. You must have compassion and a desire to help others. You must also be able to work on your own or with a team and should enjoy doing repetitive work. A willingness to keep up with advancements in therapy and technology is also important.

Employment
There are many settings that a language pathologist may choose to work at. Services may be provided at every age level. They can work in education facilities such as kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools, as well as universities. Students with language learning disorders, or with disabilities, can be treated. They can also work with physicians, social workers, and psychologists in medical facilities. This includes hospitals, home healthcare services, nursing homes, and other personal care services. Individual and family services, outpatient care centers, and child day care services are other places to work for. You’ll usually receive dental, medical, vision, and retirement benefits.

When you’re a speech-language pathologist, you can do many things with your career. You can work at management positions in clinics, agencies, and organizations. You can also direct public school or clinical programs. Creating or developing new products or ways to evaluate and treat speech-language disorders is something you can become involved in.

For essential training, you can work in the research field or as a consultant. You can also write articles for magazines or write books on speech problems. Whether you prefer working with children, adolescents, adults, or the elderly, there are many opportunities for employment.

Job Outlook And Salary
Employment of speech-language pathologist is anticipated to grow as fast as the standard for all occupations through the year 2014. Schools, hospitals, and nursing care facilities are increasingly using contract services. Because of this, the number of speech-pathologist jobs will rise. Increased medical advances are improving the survival rate of premature infants, trauma, and stroke victims. Evaluation and probable treatment by a language pathologist will be needed.

In many states, it’s mandatory for all newborns to be screened for hearing loss. Early treatment can be given if it is required. Growth in the enrollment of elementary, secondary school, and special education students will bring more of a need for language pathologists. Teachers and parents are recognizing more problems in preschool and school age child and realize they may need speech and language treatment. Also, replacements for jobs will be needed as employees in research and higher education positions retire. Those with bilingual and multicultural expertise will have many clinical opportunities.

Edcuational background, specialty, experience, work setting, and geographical location influence the salary rate for speech-language pathologists. The average speech therapist job pays up to $65,000 a year. With specialization or advanced experience, a salary of $80,000 may be earned.


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