What is a speech-language pathologist (speech therapist)?

 

What is a speech-language pathologist (speech therapist)?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) diagnoses and treats conditions that affect your ability to communicate and swallow. SLPs work with people of all ages.

As experts in communication, these specialists assess, diagnose, treat and prevent speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders from birth through old age.

“Speech-language pathologist” is the more appropriate term for a speech therapist. Still, they’re the same provider.

What does a speech-language pathologist do?

SLPs provide education and training to address speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. For example, they work with small children who have trouble talking or understanding what’s being communicated. They work with people struggling to communicate because of developmental disorders, brain injuries, head and neck cancers, and neurological conditions.

Working with a speech-language pathologist can:

• Improve your speech. SLPs can help you form sounds that others can understand. They can help you piece together sounds, words, phrases and sentences so speech flows smoothly.
• Improve your ability to comprehend others and express yourself.               SLPs can help you better understand conversation, reading materials and gestures. They can help you express yourself using words, gestures and other tools.
• Help you communicate more effectively in social settings. SLPs can help you better understand the social cues that shape conversations, such as taking turns when speaking and not standing too close or too far away during conversations.
• Help you swallow safely. SLPs can help you to better control the muscles that allow you to swallow food and drink if you have a condition that makes swallowing difficult or feel strange.
• Open up new communication possibilities if you have limited or no speaking ability. SLPs recommend communication devices to help you communicate with others, such as electronic tablets and communication boards. They can train you to use them.                                                

Careers in Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

Market Trends in Speech-Language Pathology

Of the 211,000 members and affiliates whom ASHA represents, 181,628 are certified SLPs and 785 hold dual certification as both audiologists and SLPs. The professions of speech-language pathology and audiology continue to grow for a variety of reasons.

What education and training do you need to become a speech-language pathologist?

Becoming an SLP requires an advanced degree, clinical experience, national testing, certification and a license. To earn the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence, SLPs need:

• A Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. The degree must come from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
• A passing score on the national exam. Candidates need to complete a national exam and earn a score that meets the standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
• A postgraduate fellowship. After earning their degrees, SLPs-in-training must work under an experienced, certified SLP for a minimum of 1,260 hours.
• A license. SLPs must apply for a speech-language pathology license before practicing in states that require it.                                                                                 
  
  
   
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