What Does a Speech-Language Pathologist Do?

Communication is an essential part of life. It allows us to share ideas, learn new information, form relationships and take part in community. When communication becomes difficult, even simple daily activities can be frustrating. That’s where speech-language pathologists play an important role.

Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect the ability to communicate and swallow. They work with patients to help improve their ability to speak, express ideas, understand language, interact with others and eat and drink safely. The profession combines science, healthcare and education.

Understanding the Role of a Speech-Language Pathologist

You might think of speech therapy taking place solely in schools, with kids who have trouble making their “r” sound, for instance, or who have a lisp. But communication and swallowing disorders can affect people at any age, so speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with patients throughout the lifespan, from infants and toddlers to elderly people.

Here are some of the key issues that speech-language pathologists work with:

• Fluency – how smoothly someone talks. Stuttering is an example of a fluency problem.
• Speech production – how people physically produce sounds.
• Language – understanding and using words in both spoken and written language.
• Cognition – the thinking skills that support communication, such as attention and memory.
• Voice – the quality of the voice itself, including pitch and volume.
• Resonance – how sound vibrates in a person’s mouth, nose and throat.
• Feeding and swallowing – how people eat and swallow safely.
• Hearing -- improving listening and speaking skills to help people with hearing loss communicate.

Speech-Language Pathologist Responsibilities

The duties of an SLP center on identifying communication difficulties, creating treatment plans and then working with patients. Day-to-day work includes:

Conducting Assessments: SLPs use standardized tests, observational tools, and patient interviews to understand a person’s strengths and challenges. Patients may include, for instance:

• A toddler who is not meeting language milestones
• An elementary school student with articulation difficulties
• An adult experiencing speech changes after a stroke

Diagnosing Communication Disorders: SLPs analyze the results of their assessments to determine whether a communication or swallowing disorder is present. They may diagnose conditions such as:

• Language delays
• Articulation or phonological disorders
• Fluency disorders such as stuttering
• Cognitive communication disorders resulting from brain injury or neurological disease
• Swallowing disorders

Developing Treatment Plans and Providing Therapy: SLPs design individual therapy plans based on patients’ diagnoses and goals. Plans often include structured exercises, strategies for communication and recommendations for caregivers or teachers. Speech therapy sessions, for instance, may focus on:

• Improving pronunciation
• Expanding vocabulary and sentence structure
• Improving fluency for patients who stutter
• Developing or improving social communication skills

SLPs track patient progress and adjust therapy as needed. Documentation of progress and outcomes is a key part of clinical practice.

Where Do Speech-Language Pathologists Work?

SLPs work in educational, healthcare and research settings. According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), more than half of the SLPs in the United States (53%) work in early childhood and K-12 educational settings, treating infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents.

Schools

In schools, SLPs conduct diagnostic evaluations and work with children of all ages who have a range of moderate to severe disorders. They’ll meet with students individually or in small-group settings, working on speaking, listening, reading and writing.  They also develop written plans outlining the services the child will receive and the specific goals set for each year, and work closely with teachers, psychologists and audiologists.

Colleges and universities also offer employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists. They can teach, conduct research and work in school-affiliated clinical facilities.

Healthcare

Approximately 40% of the speech-language pathologists in the U.S. work in the healthcare arena -- in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, or outpatient settings like clinics or doctors’ offices. Others are employed by home health agencies, working with patients in their homes.

Their patients might have cognitive communication issues after a brain injury, stroke, or seizure. Others might have swallowing difficulties due to cancer, Parkinson’s disease or other chronic or progressive illnesses.

An SLP will typically be part of a multidisciplinary care team, working with doctors, nurses and rehabilitation specialists.

In residential facilities, SLPs provide the same kinds of treatment but may work with patients for a longer period of time.

Private Practice

Speech-language pathologists can also operate private practices, where they can make their own decisions about their caseload, schedule and the age range of patients.

Education Requirements for SLPs

To work as a speech-language pathologist, you must earn a master’s degree in the discipline from an accredited program, complete required clinical experiences, pass a national exam and obtain a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology as well as a state license.

The University of Scranton’s Speech-Language Pathology MS is a full-time, online program designed to be completed in 21 months. Students complete 63 credits over the course of four semesters and two summer sessions.

Why Choose Scranton for Speech-Language Pathology?

Scranton’s program is ranked one of the best in Pennsylvania by SpeechPathology.org, an online resource for aspiring SLPs. The curriculum is infused with the principles of Jesuit education, which emphasize reflection, striving for excellence, serving others, and care of the whole person.

With the program’s distance-learning format, students can complete all their classwork and clinical hours where they live, with the exception of a four-week clinical placement in Scranton. That happens in the summer after the first year of coursework at the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard-of Hearing Children. It allows students to experience different modalities of communication: verbal, American Sign Language (ASL) and Augmented Alternative Communication Devices (AACs).

A focused, 10-credit healthcare specialization equips students with advanced, hands-on training in medical speech-pathology, including:

• interprofessional practice
• tracheostomy and ventilator care
• complex swallowing diagnostics
• rehabilitation for head and neck cancer 

across clinical and residency settings.

Explore Scranton's Speech Pathology MS today!