Avt Reflection

Growing up I never dreamed of one day becoming an audiologist. In fact, until recent years I knew very little about the field of audiology. During my sophomore year at LSU, I enrolled in an anatomy and physiology course that properly introduced me to the human ear. I became fascinated with the intricate structures of the ear and the science behind audition. The more I learn about the field of audiology, the more captivated I become. The human body is extraordinary and the field of audiology seamlessly blends both science and art. During my last semester of college, I gained firsthand experience with the profession through an undergraduate hearing clinic. This clinical experience provided me with direct exposure to audiologic assessments and

I want to educate, and help break down those communication barriers that I became aware of while working in the hospital. I want to help patients succeed both socially and academically. I want to help children unlock their full potential and I want to build upon the fulfillment that I have already felt as a teacher. Becoming a Speech Pathologist and attending Master’s school will allow me to combine both of my passions. Therefore, I feel that given this opportunity I will be able to make a phenomenal Speech and Language

The ability to connect through speech is an enormous gift of life, and the ability to communicate effectively is an immense aspect of life. The job of a speech-language pathologist is one that comes with a great deal of responsibility and dedication. As you are taking on the position of providing the skills needed for an individual to have successful communication in a way that best suits them given their personal conditions. In order to be a successful speech-language pathologist, a required set of skills is needed. Good interpersonal skills, the ability to take another person’s perspective and the ability to problem solve are three essential abilities that constitute a successful speech-language pathologist.

The people SLP’s work with may feel vulnerable and insecure, due to their speech or language impairment. The first responsibility the SLP has to this individual is to make them feel secure, comfortable, and advocated for. These steps are crucial to building the trust needed to be successful in therapy. An act of advocacy does not need to be a grand gesture. In a school, it can be talking to the teacher of a student and making them aware that the student you see is being teased for their lisp. In a hospital, it can be making a nurse be aware that your client may need time to process what is being said and to allow time for a response. SLP’s need to remember clients invite you into their life. Chances are, the client is experiences change, turmoil, insecurities, and are probably scared. You do not know the path they took to get where they are. You may be the 1st SLP they are seeing or the 6th because their first five didn’t work out. No matter where you fall in this spectrum, SLP’s need to earn their client’s respect and trust by proving that they are willing to stand up for what is needed. Once reliance is established between the SLP and the client, real work can

Becoming a Speech Language Pathologist will require much training and continuing education. The benefits of helping to change the lives of others and help them communicate effectively will be a wonderful way to serve and help those in need. I look forward to working with people who have speech and language disorders and conducting research to enhance the progress of those who struggle to

Language is beautiful and wondrous phenomenon. Not only is it a crucial component in everyday communication, but it also accentuates the culture of those that speak it. As a student pursuing a career in speech-language pathology, the aspects of communication, such as language, are the pillars of my future profession and will be deeply embedded into my daily life. There are many reasons I have chosen this path, but my childhood friend, Jasmine, can be accredited with my finishing decision to become a speech-language pathologist. When I was in elementary school, Jasmine was one of my closest friends, but I did not always get to play with her at recess because she frequently had to see an audiologist, or go to speech therapy. Jasmine had a congenital

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.

During my interview with Speech Pathologist, Deborah Kirsch, I learned countless details about the Speech Pathology career field. When we first began talking, I learned that Mrs. Kirsch works out of a company called “Professional Therapy Services”, where she is contracted out to work for “Eunice Smith Nursing Home” which is located in Alton, Illinois. She has been working at this facility for about a year. She is a newly found graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and she graduated in May 2011. Another thing that I learned about Mrs. Kirsch is that she originally did not go to school to become a speech pathologist, this was a career that she found later in life. After she had graduated from SIUE, the first time with a bachelors in Psychiatry, she started working at a nursing home around this area. She came to know a Speech Pathologist that worked there and she quickly found the field very fascinating. She had always been driven to help others, and she witnessed some of the exercises being done with individuals at the nursing home and decided to go back to school to get her masters in Speech Pathology.

This occurs due to diminished mental capacity, structural abnormalities such as unrepaired cleft palates, or lack of commitment on the part of the patient. An additional challenge sometimes faced by a school based SLP is dealing with difficult parents and rigid and sometimes unrealistic district expectations. However, despite the challenges faced by speech pathologists, the field of study continues to grow with an expectation of a 21% increase by 2024 (“Speech-Language Pathologists”). While jobs as an SLP are readily available nationwide in a variety of different settings, the key areas of growth in the field are in the states of Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, New York, and Ohio (“Best”). The growth of the field is due largely in part to people’s increased awareness of the benefits of treatment by a speech pathologist. SLPs provide treatments which allow individuals to function better in daily life. For example, SLPs in the education field provide techniques and strategies to help students function better both in the classroom and socially. SLPs in the medical field provide support in regaining the ability to accomplish daily tasks, safely ingest solid foods, and interact socially with family and

I sat in my child development class in a “brick and mortar” classroom setting. What was I doing there? I was extremely interested in what the professor was speaking on and what was being discussed. However, I was beginning to doubt whether I wanted to continue in my current field of study, Speech/Language Pathology. I no longer felt I was being fulfilled. There was something lacking. I talked to a few of my friends who mentioned how much money I would make as a Speech/Language Pathologist. I heard what they were saying, but somehow it just did not matter. I had to find the missing link…….

Some of the duties of a speech pathologist are, but are not limited to, evaluate patients’ levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty, identify treatment options, teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices, work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow, and counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015). ‘If the speech-language pathologists work in medical facilities, they work with physicians and surgeons, social workers, psychologists, and other healthcare workers’ (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015).

With just attaining a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, I had dedicated 4 years of my undergrad career to working with young children. During my stay at the University at Buffalo, I took the time to get involved in internships which allowed me to work along a speech pathologist in a bilingual public school in Buffalo. I also went along to work in a child care center, as a teacher assistant. These experiences have increased my passion for working with

I am Samantha Peterson, as a child I was taught to be independent in my beliefs and to always follow my heart wherever it led me. I have always been one to go after what I want and never give up until my dreams are fulfilled. I plan to finish my associate degree at AB Tech and transfer to Western Carolina. I plan to graduate from Western Carolina with a master’s degree in speech pathology. Once I complete this phase in my life I hope to pursue my career and start a family of my own. To begin my career, I hope to still be employed at Mission Hospital, but as a speech pathologist rather than a medical assistant. As a speech pathologist I hope to make life changing improvements in people’s everyday lives that I cross paths with. While beginning

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

I had a dream of a career that would allow me to utilize my skills, my motivation to help others, and would catalyze change. Speech-language pathology has allowed me to lead my life with purpose, the purpose of empowering others. This empowerment is gained by my assistance in overcoming speech related deficits and disorders as a speech-language pathologist