Speech-Language Pathologist Memo

Keaunna Knox has been a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) since 2007, and has worked ever since 2000 with children with special needs who had speech and language disorders. She began as an “Instructional/Speech Aide” at Pasadena Unified School District working with children with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. All the students she worked with had speech and language disorders, and, since the Districts therapy was overloaded Keaunna implemented the communication goals she wrote. Based on that experience and many others, Keaunna decided to enroll at Cal State Los Angeles to pursue her professional career in teaching. She received her Master’s in Mild-Moderate Disabilities in Special Education from Cal State Los Angeles and a second

Surprisingly, I discovered that jobs for speech-language pathologists are projected to grow nationwide in the next few years. I found that there is a high demand for speech therapists, because of the increase of older people there will be more instances of certain health conditions, such as strokes and dementia, which can cause speech or language issues. The increased awareness of speech disorders in younger children and children with autism will also create more job opportunities for speech-language pathologists. The job outlook for speech-language pathologists is favorable in the years to come.

Within my year and half of clinician experience, I constructed a few future goals that I would like to achieve while in graduate school. One goal is to continue growing my knowledge with working with children with language impairments. This goal is one reason that drew me towards The University of North Texas. With the hands on experience from the preschool for children with language impairments, I could work towards my completion of this goal. Another goal of mine is to gain more experience with working with adults. My clinical experience was centered on children; therefore I would like to become better rounded as a clinician by getting the opportunity to work with adults who may have diverse impairments. Lastly, I would enjoy learning new therapy techniques and how to ultimately become the best Speech-Language Pathologist that I can

My intensive Speech Language Pathology coursework at California State University- Fresno has provided me with the skills to implement treatment plans, assist during speech and language assessments, and keep formal documentation of client’s progress in speech therapy. These are the necessary skills required to be an effective Speech Language Pathology Assistant and will make me as asset to have in the school speech setting.

A couple weeks ago I spoke with a speech language pathologist who currently works at a pediatric clinic in the Iowa City area. This clinic also employs occupational therapists, physical therapists, and child psychologist. She said that every week they have team meetings with the entire staff to problem solve and share ideas with each other.

While I am learning an abundance of valuable information at Clarke, my background knowledge derived from my undergraduate studies. I double majored in Speech Pathology and Psychology at Brooklyn College because I believe they compliment each other well when it comes to the studies of speech. Different aspects of Psychology including cognitive science, neuroscience, and biology are essential in understanding speech disorders, language processing, production, acquisition, and comprehension. In my second year at Brooklyn College, I observed children at a nearby elementary school for 50 hours. During this time I observed how children at the kindergarten level interacted with each other. I shadowed the teacher in order to learn different teaching strategies that will be beneficial and applicable as a Speech Therapist.

I remember feeling so nervous and anxious as it would be my first time observing a speech-language-pathologist clinician performing therapy, experiencing that hands-on experience. As I sat down in my car I could not stop thinking about the various emotions I was feeling at that time. Finally, it was time for me to get going. Well, let’s recognize that the speech clinic was easy to find among the all the other service clinics offered by Magnolia’s multi-center building, a huge University of Houston sign was resting in the middle of the hallway. As I entered the room is was exactly how pictured it, mini classroom feeling with very minimal wall decorations. There was a small filing cabinet on of posterior left side of the room. As soon as walked in you were greeted by the speech-language pathologist, who was sitting on her desk resting in on the anterior left side of the room. There were also two different size tables in the room, one was the children’s table with four available seats and the adult table with four seats as well. As for the setting, it was clean and approachable. The classroom decorations were minimal, there not too much

For clinical 282, I had the opportunity to observe speech pathologist, Kara Nunziato, at Eric Ramstad Middle School. Being an English major, I was not sure how I was going to fit in a classroom with students that exhibited a plethora of learning disabilities. However, taking Classroom Management with the clinical, and observing Ms. Nunziato, I learned how to be patient with students, and to understand different angles on to approach and teach them.

I recently applied to USD’s Speech-language Pathology M.A. program for spring starts. Mrs. Korte informed me that spots are limited, but I’m still hopeful to receive a seat in the program. USD is the only spring application I submitted, so there will be no hesitation in my acceptance. I’m extremely motivated to continue pursuing my education and only regret that it hasn’t yet begun. Not only do I look forward to being welcomed into a program where I won’t be lost in a huge crowd, I embrace the possibility of continuing my journey in a program that focuses so heavily on community outreach.

On Friday, March 31st I observed Northside Elementary School in the Brookville school district. I watched in a separate speech therapy classroom for students who also require special education. There was only one student who attended each session and the only professional in the classroom was the speech language pathologist, Miss. Haag.

The overall purpose of the article is to precisely explain what the true role of a speech-language pathologist is. Some individuals may not be knowledgeable on the professional roles and responsibilities

Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) are professionals who diagnose and treat patients who have difficulty with language and speech. Patients have a speech disorder if they have trouble generating proper or fluent speech sounds. A person who has problems with resonance also has a speech disorder. A SLP teaches patients with speech disorders how to coordinate the muscles in their mouth to pronounce certain sounds. Patients with language disorders have difficulty expressing their own ideas or understanding others. A SLP will help a patient with language disorders learn how to form words together in order to communicate. SLPs also treat patients with social communication disorders. People with social communication disorder are usually those who have autism or have suffered a

There are many requirements that involve education and training, as well as personal requirements and aptitude. To be a Speech Language Pathologist, one must have a sincere interest in helping people, sensitivity, resourcefulness, and imagination. One must also be able to communicate orally and in writing. Michigan Works, an agency that assists with employment, posts jobs that display education and background requirements for obtaining a job as a Speech Language Pathologist. Some requirements include a master’s degree from a speech and hearing program certified by the ASHA, American Speech and Hearing Association, post-certification experience in an institutional setting. Home health experience is also desirable. One must graduate from high school and pass courses in biology, physics, social sciences, English, mathematics, public speaking, language, and psychology. Undergraduate courses should include a strong Arts/Science focus, linguistics, phonetics, anatomy, psychology, human development, biology, physiology, math, physical science, semantics, and social/behavioral science. To be an applicant for an SLP position, a graduate degree is required and also three hundred to three hundred seventy-five hours of clinical experience. Applicants have to pass

After completing an internship in high school shadowing a speech therapist in the Mesquite Independent School District, I made the conscious decision to seek a degree related to speech pathology in

In regards to speech, I have had an excellent window – literally! – into pediatric auditory verbal therapy. The world of AVT is one that strongly interests me, and this is an area I would like to specialize in, eventually getting my AVT certification. I know I still have other areas of speech-language pathology to explore, but it does appear that I may have found my “niche.”