The Intriguing Life Of A Speech-language Pathologist
The life of a speech-language pathologist is quite an interesting one. Speech-language pathologists are therapists who are responsible for treating various disorders related to swallowing and communication.
They treat various populations such as the elderly, young adults, and especially children. They are often called speech and language pathologists or therapists. They specialize in treating, diagnosing, and even assessing various disorders related to communication. Their work might look relatively easy from a distance, but they are responsible for many things.
If you are planning on becoming a speech and language pathologist, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind. There are certain prerequisites that a person needs to fulfill to become one.
The daily life of a speech and language pathologist
Their day is filled with appointments with various people from different age groups. Diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as stuttering or stammering, problems due to a traumatic brain injury, and even aphasia are a normal part of their routine.
Besides this, they also deal with issues children have in fluency or articulation. They use techniques such as oral motor facial exercises to improve these issues. Besides this, they also have to deal with administration work if they are in private practice.
Educational requirements for being a speech and language pathologist
It takes a bit of time to become a speech and language pathologist. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders. They also need to get a Master’s in the same to be eligible for an entry-level position. The Council on Academic Accreditation must accredit all speech pathology graduate programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), students need to have a minimum number of supervised clinical experience hours. These requirements vary by state, but some states such as Arizona and Washington follow ASHA regulations.
Future work settings available
The best part of being a speech and language pathologist is that you can do the same job in various settings if you are looking to explore some options. They can choose to work in hospitals, clinics, social workers, schools, colleges, and even private practice. There are a lot of endless opportunities for change in work settings if one wishes for it.
The future potential of speech and language pathologists
There is a growing recognition of the need for speech and language pathologists. The increase in positions for them is projected to be 10% in the next ten years. On average, they earn close to $100,000 per year. If they wish to work in administration, they can very easily make around $110,000 per year.
Parents worldwide are recognizing the importance of early prevention when it comes to speech and communication disorders in their children. Speech and language pathologists have a gratifying career. Their work helps in developing self-esteem in children and others by reducing the symptoms of their speech disorder. So, if you are thinking of pursuing a career as a speech pathologist, make sure you acquire relevant degrees and licensure.
