Speech Language Pathologist

The qualities I possess to make me a successful speech language pathologist include compassion, open-mindedness, knowing how to be a team player and how to live out the FISH philosophy which is an approach dealing with workplace issues. Compassion is important to have in order to be patient with my future clients. Throughout my college years, I served on the executive council for my sorority for two years as Vice President of Member Development. While sitting in those meetings, I learned how to be open-minded to others’ opinions on certain topics being discussed. I also had to meet with people who were having a hard time maintaining good membership status. Sitting down and talking to those individuals taught me to be objective about the individual’s circumstance and to be as fair as possible. Not only does a speech language pathologist need to be skilled in speech treatment but also with counseling the parents and loved ones of the client who feel hopeless and helpless. Being empathetic helps create a trusting relationship between the clinician, client and family. Another quality of a great speech pathologist is being able to be a team player. Most cases require the collaboration of the speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, schoolteacher, paraprofessional, orthodontist, audiologists, and social services to

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).

I am writing with great interest regarding a potential speech-language pathologist opening at Gull Lake Community Schools. During the spring of 2014 I completed an internship at Richland Elementary, working under Shawn Herron and Stacy Robbins. I believe I had the pleasure of meeting you a few times as well. I have spoken with Mrs. Robbins regarding the possible opening this fall and she advised I send my resume to you.

The EDUX 9930 class allowed me the flexibility to choose a topic that was specific to speech pathology. I used the hours of class time to catch up on the most recent research completed through the American Speech and Hearing Association, watch in-services on multiple speech related courses, and listen to webinars that addressed disabilities that affected speech skills. It is important for speech pathologist to stay current with evidence-based practices that will help students make the most progress in the shortest amount of time. I work with students in kindergarten through fourth grade so several of the topics that I focused on were in depth articles on phonological awareness and reading during the primary grades. I will recap some of my

As a child, I was faced with a lot of adversity. My grandmother raised my brothers and me. We lived on government assistance with little money and no car for transportation for extracurricular activities. The hardships we faced compelled me at a young age to stay in school, go to college, and make something of myself because I did not want to live a life limiting my dreams and opportunities. Throughout my academic career, there was not a specific moment that solidified my desire to pursue a profession in Speech- Language Pathology (SLP); instead, there were numerous. I initially became interested in this profession after learning how a child’s dysfluency was able to significantly improve. The gradual process of a client making substantial improvements

As a Speech Language Pathologist it is my responsibility to provide a means of communication to any individual who has an impairment as it relates to communication. No matter how severe the deficit may be as it relates to cognitive functioning, motor skills,etc.. and any other disability that may impact the traditional means of communication. A Speech language Pathologist who works with individuals who require the use of an Augmentative and alternative communication device, must keep in mind that it is their responsibility to make sure that more than one mode of alternative and or augmentative can be used, monitor the progression of intervention as well as evaluate the individual and most importantly keep up to date with current practice through

A speech language pathologist, otherwise known as an SLP, deals with many people throughout their career, which includes patients who do and do not want to receive assistance for their disorders. Sometimes a patient might refuse because they are too young to understand why they need therapy, and adults might refuse the aid of an SLP because they do not find it necessary to receive treatment for the speech, language, or hearing disorder. To address these problems SLP’s will have to give the proper help to the patient as needed. For a child, the SLP might use toys or activities to get the child involved in a talking atmosphere. In a adult’s case, it would be ideal to give the patient as much information as possible in order to let them fully

The second limitation that Speech-Language Pathologists deal with when working with families is educating families. Janice Swanson, a Speech-Language Pathologist in Lincoln, NE, works with families both in a research setting through the University and also a healthcare setting through Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Swanson says that she engages families in their child’s therapy by educating them. She said that she provides them with strategies that they can use at home to continue to make improvements when they can’t be seen by the Speech Pathologist (personal communication, February 3, 2017). “Family members know the characteristics of their member with a language disorder more intimately than anyone else and come to share this insight with

Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to control communication and swallowing disorders in patients. Speech-language pathologists try to find out the level of difficulty of their speech, language, or swallowing disorder, and see what type of treatment is needed. They also have to plan the treatments to the patients’ needs. If the patient has swallowing problems then the pathologist has to help the patient strength the muscles that they used to swallow. Then the most important thing a speech pathologist does is that they talk to the patient and their family on how they can help with the communication and swallowing disorder.

Everyone needs a little help. I need help from my teachers to learn, and other people need help to do simple tasks, as simple as tying their shoes. I have three younger brothers. Their names are Trevor, Drake, and Ross. All three of my brothers have a speech delay. I am the only one of my siblings to not have this. My little brothers were all put on an IEP for speech. They also attended the preschool at Fort Jennings School to get help. As my brothers grew up, only Drake was taken off his IEP for speech. Trevor, who is 16, and Ross, who is 8, still have a speech delay today. They are one of the reasons I believe I am meant to become a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).

“‘Atticus, he was real nice….’… ‘Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.’” is a dialogue written by Harper Lee that stuck with me after reading To Kill A Mockingbird in high school. Despite physical appearance or intellect, everyone deserves to be valued at their core; what better way to affirm someone than by conversing with them as Scout did with Boo Radley. Thus, my aspiration is to enable a voice to those with communication disorders. This desire to be a speech language pathologist has been influenced by personal and professional exposures to the field.

Often, I am asked why I want to become a Speech-Language-Pathologist. My answer is always the same. In my opinion, having the opportunity and privilege to help someone with the way they communicate with the world, the way they express themselves, and make sense of the world around them will be my greatest achievement in life. What my educational goal is? Well, I want to become the best SLP I can possibly be. I plan to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, top of my class. In addition, it is important to me to expand my horizons during my academic career through research, community involvement, and giving back. Everything I will do in my remaining academic career will lead me to people who need my help and relay on it. It may sound naive, but I plan to make

Individual 1500 word essay. 
 All professional bodies idealise to differentiate themselves from others. Professional bodies aim to create awareness within society of who they are and what they do, in order to create and maintain a specific professional identity. According to Speech Pathology Australia (2016), speech pathology is the ‘diagnosis, management and treatment of individuals who are unable to communicate effectively or who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing’ (para. 1). , whereas nursing defined by Oxford Dictionaries (2016) refers to ‘providing care for the sick and infirm’ (para 1).

As a Speech-Language Pathologist major my job setting of interest is working in a school system. To be more specific I would like to work with special needs children in a school site. This setting is the most attractive to me because for the past three years I have worked in this exact situation. I was a paraprofessional/teachers’ assistant at a middle school in a life skills classroom. My job allowed me to work alongside a speech language pathologist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a music therapist.

The interdisciplinary course is an essential pre-requisite for after degree nursing students as it allows individuals to acquire the skills necessary for inter-professional practice, as well as developing competencies necessary for patient-centered care.