Speech Pathologist Career

Speech Pathologist Job Description

A speech pathologist works with individuals who have speech-related disorders. These include: speech-rhythm and fluency issues, failure to produce certain sounds and voice ailments. A speech pathologist’s job description says that he needs to take the patient’s medical history, evaluate, diagnose, and treatment speech-related disorders.

Speech therapists make use of oral and written tests, and certain devices, to make a diagnosis, ascertain the kind and degree of impairment, and to assess the speech, language, and swallowing difficulties. They devise individualized treatment programs, according to each patient's requirements.

A therapist trains people who have little or no speech; they teach them how to make sounds, improve their voices, or enhance language skills to communicate more efficiently.

The therapist helps who have suffered loss of speech to make progress rapidly. Speech and swallowing difficulties develop because of a host of reasons: - brain injury, stroke, developmental disorders, slow development, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, voice pathology, cleft palate, hearing loss, retardation, or emotional issues.

Speech Pathologist Education, Certification and Training

• Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology is the basic requirement to become a speech therapist.

• Licensing varies from state to state. Certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is recommended for students who want to advance in the field. For certification, you must have a master's degree or an equivalent, along with work experience.

• Some states require you to graduate from a training program that is acknowledged by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. Students receive class room coaching and practical training as well.

• Licensing requirements are 300 to 375 hours of directed clinical experience and nine months of post graduate practice.

Speech Pathologist Jobs

The BLS has stated that the job outlook for speech therapists is very good. Speech pathologist’s jobs are likely to grow as fast as the average for most vocations through the year 2016.

Most speech therapists are employed in schools. Others are engaged at hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing care facilities, individual and family care services, out-patient centers and child day care facilities. Some speech therapists have their own private practice.

Speech Pathologist Salary

The speech pathologist’s salary is approximately $57,710 per year. The earnings largely depend on his education and qualification, employer, experience, and location.