Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathology is a field of expertise practiced by a clinician known as a Speech-language pathologist (SLP), also called speech and language therapist,[1] or speech therapist, who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders and swallowing disorders.

The components of speech production include: phonation, producing sound; resonance; fluency; intonation, variance of pitch; and voice, including aeromechanical components of respiration. The components of language include: phonology, manipulating sound according to the rules of a language; morphology, understanding and using minimal units of meaning; syntax, constructing sentences by using languages' grammar rules; semantics, interpreting signs or symbols of communication to construct meaning; and pragmatics, social aspects of communication.[2]

Swallowing disorders includes oropharyngeal and functional dysphagia in adults and children and feeding disorders in children and infants.

The Speech-Language Pathology profession

Speech-Language Pathologists provide a wide range of services, mainly on an individual basis, but also as support for individuals, families, support groups, and providing information for the general public. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.[3] Speech services begin with initial screening for communication and swallowing disorders and continue with assessment and diagnosis, consultation for the provision of advice regarding management, intervention and treatment, and provision counseling and other follow up services for these disorders. Services are provided in the following areas:

Speech, language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety of causes, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss, developmental delay, a cleft palate, cerebral palsy, or emotional issues.

Multi-discipline collaboration

Speech-Language Pathologists collaborate with other health care professionals often working as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing referrals to audiologists and others; providing information to health care professionals (including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, dietitians), educators, behavior consultants (applied behavior analysis) and parents as dictated by the individual client's needs.

In relation to Auditory Processing Disorders[4] collaborating in the assessment and providing intervention where there is evidence of speech, language, and/or other cognitive-communication disorders.

The treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate has an obvious interdisciplinary character. The speech therapy outcome is even better when the surgical treatment is performed earlier.[5]

Working environments

Speech-Language Pathologists work in a variety of clinical and educational settings. SLPs work in public and private hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities, hospice,[6] and home healthcare. SLPs may also work as part of the support structure in the education system, working in both public and private schools, colleges, and universities.[7] Some speech-language pathologists also work in community health, providing services at prisons and young offenders' institutions or providing expert testimony in applicable court cases.[8]

Subsequent to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA's) 2005 approval of the delivery of Speech-Language Pathology services via video conference, or telepractice,[9] SLPs have begun delivering services via this service delivery method.

Research

Speech-language pathologists conduct research related to communication sciences and disorders, swallowing disorders, or other upper aerodigestive functions.

Education and training

United States

In the United States, Speech-Language Pathology is a Master's entry-level professional degree field. Clinicians must hold a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology (e.g. M.A., M.S., or M.Ed.) that is from a university that holds regional accreditation and from a communicative sciences and disorders program that is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the profession's governing body. Beyond the Master's degree, some SLPs may choose to earn a clinical doctorate in Speech Language Pathology (e.g. CScD or SLP.D), or a doctoral degree that has a research and/or professional focus (e.g., Ph.D., or Ed.D.). All degrees must be from a university that holds regional accreditation, but only the Master's degree is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). All clinicians are required to complete 400 clinical hours (25 observation hours often completed during the undergraduate degree and 375 hours of graduate Clinical Practicum). They must pass multiple Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) exams. Additional coursework at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as additional licensure is required if the SLP wishes to work in a K-12 school setting.

After all the above requirements have been met during the SLP’s path to earning the graduate degree:

Maintaining Licensure Through Continuing Education:

Continuing Education and Training Obligations:

Professional Suffix:

Salary by state or district in the United States:

Average salaries for speech-language pathologists vary somewhat throughout the United States, ranging on average between 40-100K depending on setting and years of experience.

Methods of assessment

For more details on this topic, see Speech and language assessment.

Clients and patients requiring speech and language pathology services

Speech-Language Pathologists work with clients and patients who may present with a wide range of issues.

Infants and children

In the US, some children are eligible to receive speech therapy services, including assessment and lessons through the public school system. If not, private therapy is readily available through personal lessons with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or the growing field of telepractice.[17] Teleconferencing tools such as Skype are being used more commonly as a means to access remote locations in private therapy practice, such as in the geographically diverse southern New Zealand.[18] More at-home or combination treatments have become readily available to address specific types of articulation disorders. The use of mobile applications in speech therapy is also growing as an avenue to bring treatment into the home.

In the UK, children are entitled to an assessment by local NHS Speech and Language Therapy teams, usually after referral by health visitors or education settings, but parents are also entitled to request an assessment directly.[19] If treatment is appropriate, a care plan will be drawn up. Speech therapists often play a role in multi-disciplinary teams where a child has speech delay or disorder as part of a wider health condition.

Children and adults

Adults

See also

References

  1. Brady, MC; Kelly, H; Godwin, J; Enderby, P (May 16, 2012). "Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke.". The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 5: CD000425. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000425.pub3. PMID 22592672.
  2. Block, Frances K.; Amie Amiot, Cheryl Deconde Johnson; Gina E. Nimmo; Peggy G. Von Almen; Deborah W. White; and Sara Hodge Zeno (1993), "Definitions of Communication Disorders and Variations", Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools, ASHA, doi:10.1044/policy.RP1993-00208, retrieved 2010-08-07
  3. "Speech-Language Pathologists". American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. DeBonis DA, Moncrieff D (February 2008). "Auditory processing disorders: an update for speech-language pathologists". Am J Speech Lang Pathol 17 (1): 4–18. doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2008/002). PMID 18230810.
  5. Mihaela Frățilă, Emil Urtilă, Maria Ștefănescu (Oct 2011). "Speech therapy — criteria for determining the time of the surgical operation in surgery of labio-palato-velars cleft". Rev. chir. oro-maxilo-fac. implantol. (in Romanian) 2 (2): 21–23. ISSN 2069-3850. 33. Retrieved 2012-06-06.(webpage has a translation button)
  6. Pollens R (October 2004). "Role of the speech-language pathologist in palliative hospice care". J Palliat Med 7 (5): 694–702. doi:10.1089/jpm.2004.7.694. PMID 15588361.
  7. "Speech and language therapist - NHS Careers".
  8. "What is speech and language therapy?".
  9. "ASHA Telepractice Position Statement". Asha.org. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  10. http://www.asha.org/certification/Clinical-Fellowship.htm=. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "Professional Profile of the Speech and Language Therapist".
  12. "Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools".
  13. Bellani, M.; Moretti, A.; Perlini, C.; Brambilla, P. (Dec 2011). "Language disturbances in ADHD.". Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 20 (4): 311–5. doi:10.1017/S2045796011000527. PMID 22201208.
  14. "International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) Version for 2010". World Health Organisation. 2010.
  15. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/autism.aspx
  16. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm
  17. http://asha.org/telepractice/
  18. http://vocalsaints.co.nz/
  19. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/helping-your-childs-speech.aspx#close
  20. Ritter, Michaela J. (June 2009). "The Speech-Language Pathologist and Reading: Opportunities to Extend Services for the Children We Serve". Perspectives on School-Based Issues 10 (2): 38–44. doi:10.1044/sbi10.2.38. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  21. "The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist | DyslexiaHelp at the University of Michigan".
  22. Richard GJ (July 2011). "The role of the speech-language pathologist in identifying and treating children with auditory processing disorder". Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch 42 (3): 241–5. doi:10.1044/0161-1461(2011/09-0090). PMID 21757563.
  23. "Language Delay in Children Under Five Years.".

Further reading

External links