A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is a specialist who evaluates and treats patients or students with speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages, according to MedicineNet (MedicineNet). People of all ages can struggle with speaking whether it be articulating letters, stuttering or dyslexia. It is easiest to help correct these challenges at a younger age, but not impossible when you are older. Regardless of the age or the reason behind the treatment, the most important part is that the individual receives the therapy that is needed to help them reach their optimum ability in communication and speaking.
Before starting this project, I didn’t know very much about Speech-Language Pathology. I
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While with Ms. Smith, I was able to learn more about the difference between Medical Speech-Language Pathology and School Speech-Language Pathology. One of the major differences was the schooling you have to go through to become each type of pathologist. In a school, they require a masters to pass the national test, and a teaching certificate, where as a medical SLP’s need a masters to pass the national test, and a certificate of clinician competence. Another difference is what each type of pathology pays. A school pathologist starts at around $40,000 a year with a scheduled “step” raise yearly of between $2,500 to $3,000. Medical SLP’s start out at around $10,000 more than in a school and can increase significantly more over time. According to Learn.org, the highest mean salary someone can expect to receive in a hospital/laboratory setting is about $105,680 as of 2015 (Learn.org). One question I was eager to learn more about was how exactly does an SLP help children? While researching this question, I came across a video that explains exactly how it helps children. Speech-Language Pathology can help with children's communication skills. It allows them to better understand what is being said to them and how to express themselves to others. It encourages them to talk with others more, and improves reading and writing skills. Communication can impact a child’s social skills and can be an area kids may struggle. With some help with their speech, they can share a common focus with another person, play with others and share toys, understand feelings, and make friends. Overall, Speech-Language Pathology helps them interact better with people around them and makes them feel more comfortable in a classroom (ASHA). One last thing that I was able to come to a conclusion on was the common terminology used as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Like most fields of study,
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
As I have progressed through my college career I believe I continue to develop certain skills which will aid in excelling as a Speech-Language Pathologists; such as organization, problem solving and the love of learning. As an SLP, one needs to posses organization skills due to the large volume of case loads per Speech Therapist. With so many clients assigned to one SLP, organization is the best way to stay on top of the paperwork, being prepared for therapy sessions/IEP meetings and collaboration. Problem solving is a crucial skill and may be the core of what a SLP does; all clients will be a puzzle piece which we are responsible for figuring out what the problem is and the best possible route to take to help. Also, I have developed the love
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 phenomenon applicable to the vast field of Speech-Language Pathology, and the foundation of research now and in the future can all be attributed to, difference versus disorder. This concept considers the complexities of those served within the profession and highlights the range of possibilities displayed from an individual, that draws a fine line between a person being labeled as having a dialectal difference or a speech and/or language disorder. A difference can be defined as an alteration in an individual’s speech and/or language that can be attributed to internal and external factors such as race, culture, and the environment in which a person lives. In contrast, a disorder is an actual disability that interferes with a person’s speech
Speech-language pathologists play a significant role in evaluation and intervention with English Language Learners. More and more SLPs are playing a teacher role in the academic environment. The role and responsibility of a speech-language pathologist is essential when identifying the most ethical and appropriate services to meet the individual needs of the student. However, evaluating ELL students can be challenging from a clinical standpoint and typically is complicated by many factors including, personal, institutional, and society interests. Many school based SLPs are not proficient in a second language and therefore are not adequately trained to provide nonbiased bilingual assessments. Current practices in speech-language pathology support the decision making process for the family and their priorities when identifying assessment and treatment options. Consideration for implementing strategies that will benefit the student most should not be overlooked.
Interprofessional collaboration is an important component in any health care. According to the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics, Individuals shall uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain collaborative and harmonious interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept the professions’ self-imposed standards (ASHA, 2016). With this in mind, it is our duty as future speech-language pathologist (SLPs) to adhere to this principle. Clinicians should utilize every resource available to assist his/her client. This even includes if the client needs a referral to a different specialist.
An issue frequently debated by the legislature concerns funding of various social/public programs which include speech-language pathology services. As a child who suffered from an auditory processing disorder, and a future licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I know all too well how important SLP services are for children. Currently, funding for social/public programs to include Speech-Language Pathology services in the United States is not adequate for children with learning disabilities and the legislature must act to remedy this.
In the profession of speech-language pathology, there are a variety of settings and clients with diverse needs to work with. One is able to work with not only children, but people of all age groups. Throughout my undergraduate program, I was able to gain the necessary skills in order to write professional reports for both medical and educational settings. The principles of formulating goals, establishing effective communication skills, and being flexible with your clients were among the many important skills I
The opportunity to observe the work overview of a Speech Pathologist, has tremendously solidified my interest in this field. At the Diana Rogovin Speech Center at Brooklyn College, I observed clients of various ages with different speech language disorders including articulation, language, voice, fluency and accent modification. Observing clinicians at the speech center gave me the opportunity to learn how important client-clinician interaction is for the session and how essential it is to build a good relationship with the client. Although I learned the
A speech and language therapist specialises primarily in language, communication and speech problems and in some circumstances, may also offer support with feeding problems. They assess, diagnose and develop programmes to help children develop communication skills. This may include verbal (i.e. using speech) or non verbal, using signs, symbols or communication aids. They work closely with families and the settings children attend depending upon the child’s needs and circumstances. Often the best way for a speech therapist to work is by assessing the child’s needs and developing a programme that is then carried out in the child’s setting or home. This allows for more opportunity to practice their skills in a natural
In conclusion, there are multiple advantages for a speech-language pathologist to learn ASL. The goals of speech-language pathologists include helping treat speech, language, and communication disorders, and by utilizing ASL in therapy, there are benefits for the individuals requiring the help and it can facilitate oral language. The speech-language pathologist will also be more attractive to employers and have the ability to communicate with people who use ASL, increasing the range of individuals they may help. ASL may very well be an important language for
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
Another thing that SLPs need to earn are their Certification of Clinical Competence and it comes from completing a master’s degree major in speech-language pathology, meet the academic and clinical competencies on the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition summary form, and get passing score on national standardized examination and complete clinical fellowship year (Gilliam & Marquardt, 2016). All of these are things that SLPs go through that help them select interventions. I observed two sessions with two separate children, but for this paper I will be covering the first one. In the first session, the client had a phonological disorder. The child had deficits in the usage of age-appropriate morphology.
Since the early 20th century, speech and language services in schools have changed profoundly in scope and focus. Speech specialists, or speech teachers work with elementary students who have mild to moderate speech impairments in the areas of fluency, voice, and articulation. Children with disabilities were placed in institutions and were not given services at all. That is no longer the case, due to a number of professional, political, and social influences.
Children, while developing their speech and communication skills, are often hard to understand; however, having a speech disorder, such as a stutter, on top of that may make it near impossible for anyone to understand what that child is struggling to say. Stuttering is just one of the many speech disorders that make children’s speech even harder to understand. Even sentences that might be a basic sentence to say might come out muffled, broken up, or distorted in some other way, if a child has a stutter or another speech deficiency. A speech-language pathologist is a professional, whose job it is to help correct and make these disorders less noticeable. Speech-language pathologists work closely with both kids and adults to help them to