Speech Pathology Job Description

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/09/30 - Updated: 2024/02/05
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Job Descriptions - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: A speech pathologist or a speech therapist treats individuals grappling with communication problems associated with the voice fluency language and speech. Speech difficulties are most often caused by accidents, cleft palate, delayed development, mental retardation, hearing loss, emotional problems, cerebral palsy, brain injury and stroke.

Introduction

A speech pathologist or a speech therapist treats individuals grappling with communication problems associated with the voice, fluency, language and speech, most often caused by accidents, cleft palate, delayed development, mental retardation, hearing loss, emotional problems, cerebral palsy, brain injury and stroke.

Main Item

Are You Considering a Job in Speech Pathology?

Those aspiring for jobs as speech pathologists are offered university courses that cover topics such as acoustics, assessment, anatomy, counseling, hearing aids, hearing disorders, language development, language disorders, neurology, neurophysiology, linguistics, non vocal communication, psychological disorders, parent training, phonetics, statistics, speech disorders, voice disorders, stuttering etc.

These courses equip you with the knowledge required to diagnose and assess the actual cause of the communication problem and implement an effective treatment plan.

Where Can Speech Language Pathologists Work?

Speech-language pathologists can practice privately or work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, child development centers, speech and hearing dispensaries, clinics for the developmentally disabled, schools, colleges, universities, government agencies, research laboratories, industry and health departments. They need to work closely with others related to the patient such as parents, teachers, nurses, and doctors.

Speech pathologists require a graduation or advance degree in an accredited speech therapy program. A valid certificate to prove clinical experience is also needed to practice in different locations. Speech pathologists can work anywhere in the world, from rural centers to urban communities.

What is the Scope of the Job?

Ten percentage of the world population has some sort of communication disorders. This ten percentage of the population, spread out in different parts of the world, requires the service of speech pathologists for their recovery. Speech pathologists can provide them an enjoyable and meaningful living by giving them the necessary treatment.

As the services of speech pathologists are extremely valuable, they are offered high salary and benefits everywhere in the world. Speech therapist job opportunities are growing day by day, compared to most of the other professions.

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.