Speech Language Pathologists

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

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.

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

After practicing for over twenty years as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant, I have gained many skills and qualifications. I am a motivated self-starter, and licensed to practice in Idaho and Oregon. Working as an SLP-A has allowed me to be well versed in IDEA, and special education programs. My knowledge and proficiency have enabled me to perform therapy, follow directions, maintain daily notes, and assist with progress notes. I have been involved in various speech screenings in the schools. My experience is with a multitude of supervisors working with clients from pre-kindergarten to geriatric, both in group sessions and 1:1. In these sessions I have worked with to name a few articulation, fluency, expressive/receptive language,

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

Based on evaluation findings from an interdisciplinary team including a Speech-Language Pathologist, a school Psychologist, classroom teachers, and Mary Lou’s parents, Mary Lou has been diagnosed with dyslexia characterized under Language-Based Learning Disability (LLD) as she exhibits difficulty with both spoken and written words (ASHA, 2016). Based on below average score in following directions on the CELF-5, and Mary Lou’s self report of difficulties in comprehending verbal instructions from classroom teachers Mary Lou was diagnosed with a mild receptive language disorder. Mary Lou’s diagnosis of a receptive language disorder is then further impacted by her reduced processing speed as noted in standardized assessment using the WISC.

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.

Walking into school, a little boy is scared to talk to his classmates because he stutters . He is not getting good grades because he has trouble understanding information and communicating. His parents want to help him ,but do not know how. That is when speech and language pathologists come to the rescue. Speech and language pathologists help kids, teens, and adults overcome their oral and mental difficulties. They specialize in the field of helping the physically impaired, mentally impaired and behavioral disorders. The main issues they deal with are stuttering, mispronunciation, troubles communicating with others, troubles sharing thoughts, and troubles articulating (Connelly 44). Speech pathologists are required to attend many years of school to receive their Masters Degree and are paid a good amount, and their career gives them a rewarding prize of being able to strengthen their students minds to help them understand and learn better.

I am an immigrant to the U.S. I grew up in an Ecumenical Christian church in Pakistan and decided to serve the UMC in the U.S. Currently, I am serving a Caucasian congratulation as the associate pastor of the church. The senior pastor has pointed out that my vocal chords, dialogue delivery and reading, such as call to worship, are not UMC / U.S. friendly. He believes that this is because of my cultural and denominational backgrounds.

From a developmental perspective, this statement is supported by the research finding that infants have the ability to discriminate speech sounds before they are even exposed to certain languages; however, as they grow older, because of the influence of input from their native languages, infants start to lose sensitivity to non-native speech sound contrasts (e.g. Werker & Tees, 1984). Werker and Tees (1984) provided such evidence, who conducted a series of studies that investigated the development of infants’ speech perception ability, comparing the infants with adults.

The career path I have chosen to follow through with is Speech Pathology. In order to fully develop an understanding of Speech Pathology I will need to attend a university and or college that offers my career choice. This career is not something you can simply be trained for in a matter of days and become an expert, becoming a Speech Pathologist takes time and effort as well as studying the human functions of speech. Having an outlook on my future it is highly likely that graduating with a college degree I will have a higher chance of being employed as well as having benefits that could help in the long run. Attending college provides greater opportunities which are not as common for those who did not graduate college.