by Robyn Merkel-Piccini, M.A., CCC-SLP
Edited by Mary Lowery, M.S. CCC-SLP
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association designates May as
"National Speech-Language-Hearing Month!" This is the time of year for
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Audiologists to educate their
communities about communication disorders and the fields of
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
History
The need for a professional to deal with disorders of speech was
identified in the 1920's; however,"speech correctionists" were not
introduced to the schools until the 1950's. Similarly, the field of
audiology emerged in the 1940s to help soldiers returning from World War
II with noise-induced hearing loss. In the beginning, speech
correctionists dealt with articulation, but over the years, the field has
grown to include voice, fluency, language, dysphagia (difficulty
swallowing), accent reduction, acquistion, and oral-motor evaulations and
therapies.
Education and Certification
There are four professional terms associated with speech therapy:
- "Speech Correctionist"
- "Speech Therapist"
- "Speech-Language Pathologist" or "Speech Pathologist"
- "Speech-Language Specialist"
These four terms are often used interchangeably, but can mean different
things. In the 1950's, a person would receive a Bachelor of Arts in Speech
Correction. This certificate was given until the mid-eighties when the
requirements for the teaching certificate changed.
Today, speech-language pathologist is the preferred term. An SLP must
obtain a master's degree from an acreddited program and complete
approximately 375 clinical hours in diagnostics and intervention.
The masters program for Speech-Language Pathology is unique in that it
combines science, education, medicine, and psychology. Most graduate
programs require 40-60 graduate credits, in addition to several clinical
internships.
SLPs may also obtain two additional certificates: The Certificate of
Clinical Competence (CCC) and a state license. The CCCs are issued when
the SLP completes master's degree and 375 hours of supervised clinical
hours in communication disorders and therapy, receives a passing score on
the Praxis exam, and completes a Clinical Fellowship Year. State license
requirements vary. To maintain their licenses, SLPs must complete
continuing education requirements.
Job Duties:
An SLP can take on many roles. SLPs can study a specialized area or
continue their education to the doctoral level. Here is a general overview
of the roles an SLP can serve:
School-Based Program
- Articulation therapy
- Voice therapy
- Stuttering therapy
- Language therapy
- Child Study Team Member
- Group language lessons
- Sign language programs
- Speech reading programs
- Speech/language evaluations
- Hearing screenings
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Rehabilitative Program
- Dysphagia therapy
- Videofloroscopy studies
- Laryngectomy patients
- Closed head injury
- Stroke and trauma
- Alzheimer's patients
- Cleft palate
- Speech/language testing
- Hearing screenings
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