Speech-Language Pathologists

Career Description: Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.

Industry: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Other Job Titles for Speech-Language Pathologists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
• Evaluate hearing and speech/language test results and medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, and swallowing disorders.
• Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests, or examinations to patients to collect information on type and degree of impairments, using written and oral tests and special instruments.
• Record information on the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
• Develop and implement treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, and inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems, based on own assessments and recommendations of physicians, psychologists, or social workers.
• Develop individual or group programs in schools to deal with speech or language problems.
• Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, including sign language, lip reading, and voice improvement.
• Teach clients to control or strengthen tongue, jaw, face muscles, and breathing mechanisms.
• Develop speech exercise programs to reduce disabilities.
• Consult with and advise educators or medical staff on speech or hearing topics, such as communication strategies or speech and language stimulation.
• Instruct patients and family members in strategies to cope with or avoid communication-related misunderstandings.
• Design, develop, and employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices and strategies.
• Conduct lessons and direct educational or therapeutic games to assist teachers dealing with speech problems.
• Refer clients to additional medical or educational services if needed.
• Participate in conferences or training, or publish research results, to share knowledge of new hearing or speech disorder treatment methods or technologies.
• Communicate with non-speaking students, using sign language or computer technology.
• Provide communication instruction to dialect speakers or students with limited English proficiency.
• Use computer applications to identify and assist with communication disabilities.
• Conduct or direct research on speech or hearing topics, and report findings for use in developing procedures, technologies, or treatments.
• Prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.
• Direct and coordinate infection control programs, advising and consulting with specified personnel about necessary precautions.
• Perform administrative and managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit's staff, budget, planning, and long-range goals.
• Provide or arrange for training or instruction of auxiliary personnel or students.
• Refer students or patients to specialized health resources or community agencies furnishing assistance.
• Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues and concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.
• Work with individuals, groups, and families to plan and implement programs designed to improve the overall health of communities.
• Engage in research activities related to nursing.

Emerging Tasks

• Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, and writing lesson plans.
• Consult with and refer clients to additional medical or educational services.
• Develop individual or group activities and programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems.
• Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques and strategies to cope with or avoid personal misunderstandings.
• Evaluate hearing and speech/language test results, barium swallow results, and medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, and swallowing disorders.
• Participate in and write reports for meetings regarding patients' progress, such as individualized educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, and intervention assistance team meetings.
• Participate in conferences, training, continuing education courses, or publish research results to share knowledge of new hearing or speech disorder treatment methods or technologies.
• Supervise and collaborate with therapy team.
• Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid and billing records and caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• advise other staff on speech or hearing topics
• analyze medical data
• analyze patient activity
• analyze speech or hearing data
• collect clinical data
• communicate technical information
• conduct patient assessments
• document medical prognosis
• identify needs of communication-impaired persons
• make decisions
• make presentations on health or medical issues
• observe patient condition
• obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
• prepare patient reports
• recommend treatments for speech or hearing problems
• treat medical condition of patient
• use counseling techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use medical diagnostic techniques
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use clinical sterilizing technique
• use emergency medical procedures
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use quality assurance techniques
• use respiratory equipment
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use medical equipment in direct patient care
• use respiratory equipment
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
• take vital signs
• treat medical condition of patient
• understand properties or composition of drugs
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use behavior modification techniques
• use clinical problem solving techniques
• use counseling techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of nursing terminology
• use medical lab techniques
• use nursing practices or procedures
• use personal care procedures
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• weigh patients
• provide customer service
• refer patients to community resources
• sell merchandise
• store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
• teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
• understand drug products
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• understand pharmaceutical formulas
• understand properties of gases or liquids
• understand properties or composition of drugs
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use health or sanitation standards
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents

Overall Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, physicists, school psychologists, and surgeons.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$29.18
• Average annual wage (2007) - $60,690.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.59%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 11,612
• Employment (2006): 109,677

• Health Educators
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Recreational Therapists
• Respiratory Therapists
• Surgical Technologists
• Radiologic Technicians
• Respiratory Therapists