Becoming A Speech-Language Pathologist

When undergoing the professional training needed to practice as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), we pride ourselves in “achieving and maintaining the highest level of professional competence and performance (ASHA Code of Ethics, 2016).” Even with the many clinical hours needed as a graduate student and the additional hours needed as a clinical fellow (CF), there are some areas in the scope of practice of an SLP one might not gain experience in. When applying for our first jobs in our field, SLPs should feel comfortable with the potential clientele we will be working with.

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

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

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.

There are hundreds of career paths and options, which can be overwhelming and exciting. I have looked into many possibilities and wanted to talk to a speech pathologist about their career and responsibilities. Speech pathologists, also known as speech-language pathologists or speech therapists, help individuals with a multitude of disorders, associated with swallowing, speech, and language. They can work in schools, hospitals, specialty clinics, or through private practice. I chose to interview Sherri Anderson, a speech pathologist for Rock Creek Elementary School in the Beaverton School District in Oregon. Ms. Anderson originally got a degree in English, and worked for a bookstore for a decade before going back to school to become a speech

In 2006 it had been estimated that around 19% of Speech-Language Pathologist’s caseloads are comprised of geriatric clients with communication disorders (Zraick, Gregg, & Whitehouse, 2006). Due to the influx of the baby boomer generation reaching old age within recent years, this percentage is sure to have increased. It is imperative that Speech-Language Pathologists become highly familiar with the aging process as it relates to speech production for both healthy and disordered speakers. Strong knowledge of this area will enable a Speech-Language Pathologist to determine if the changes a client undergoes are the result of the normal course of aging, or if they are indicative of a disorder. Aging effects various aspects of speech and all

Per the previous section, there is a multitude of knowledge that speech pathologists should have, and a significant amount of skills to acquire, thus a lot of education and experience is needed. Getting started in one’s undergraduate education, individuals should consider that there is no required degree, (although prerequisite work may be required) but the most common majors include communication sciences and disorders or cognitive science and linguistics. After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in one of the aforementioned areas,

After shadowing a school-based speech-language pathologist, I instantly fell in love with the career. I was accepted into the University of Central Oklahoma speech-language pathology program, and began taking classes in the fall of 2016. From my first day in class, I wanted to absorb as much information as possible. I want to learn as much as I can so I may be the best clinician I can be upon graduation.

Dawn Aultman, now a speech-language pathologists (SLP) in the healthcare field, always knew she had a passion for helping others overcome speech impairments. Dawn has personal experiences with seeing family members struggle with speech and became a pathologist in the education field. In this work, students were Mrs. Dawns main priority and then she moved to healthcare. Moving to the healthcare field, Mrs. Aultman expressed the benefits she gained resulting in numerous dissatisfaction for a school pathologist. The education field has factors in the work environment that hinders the turnover rate of pathologists. According to a study posted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on SLP workforce and work conditions, workload/high

My goal is to become a Speech Pathologist because my passion to help others. For several years, my mother has fostered and cared for Medically-fragile adults and kids it saddens me that children or anyone have to endure these different diseases but I'm excited that there are programs that cater to their every type of need. One of these fields that cater to the different diseases are Speech-Pathology. It's not just for helping or teaching to speak it also includes language and swallowing disorders, investigating behavioral patterns associated with communication disorders, and more. I chose this field because I see myself being happy while doing it. I am a very hard and dedicated worker I love to give back and to take care of people. With this

My dream job is to become a speech pathologist, specifically for children who suffer from speech impediments and stutters, or even for patients who have suffered from strokes or other traumatic experiences. If I was given the opportunity to job shadow a speech pathologist, I would prepare myself by expecting to encounter patients of any age and I would build confidence before-hand so perhaps I could attempt to communicate with them for some personal practice. I would develop questions which could allow me to converse with patients of any age. I would also formulate questions I’ve always had curiosity about in the field of speech pathology. The first question I would ask is: “What is the biggest struggle that comes along with your career?”.

A job growth of 21% from 2014-2024 is expected for speech therapists. More advances in medicine means that there is a larger number of people surviving strokes and trauma that require help from speech therapists. There’s also an increased awareness for young children with autism and other speech problems who can benefit from the help of a speech therapist (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The article introduced discusses how the uprising of technology can be beneficial in the work field of speech language pathology. Gosnell stated “As with expressive language, many apps target receptive language skills. Receptive skills sometimes require spoken answers, but other times simply require pointing to an appropriate object of picture” (2011). Updated technology has had an astounding effect on the speech language field resulting in different ways for clients to learn how to connect with others. This article will assist me in showing my audience

To begin with, I am deeply interested in both linguistics and anatomy. Speech and Hearing Sciences allows me to explore the principles and knowledge of language and the human body. I anticipate to become an expert

Speech Therapy is my number one career choice. In many ways, it represents my second, third, and fourth career choices. Educators teach and lead young people towards success. Legislators draft politics that improve processes for their constitutions. And professional basketball players commit themselves to extensive practice to master the skills of their profession. As a speech therapist, I want to see myself incorporating all three. I want to master the skills of assessing, work to improve the processes of speech therapy practice, and successfully educate my patients to enable them to play their role in the society.