05/18/2023
May 18th is National Speech-Language Pathologist Day!
The field of speech pathology began to grown in interest in the early 1920’s, as soldiers with traumatic brain injuries returned from the war. By 1926, the American Academy of Speech Correction was created. Almost 100 years later, in 2016, there were 145,100 SLPs employed in the United States. The top three practice settings of SLPs are schools, offices (like ours!), and hospitals
The minimum entry level degree into the profession is a masters degree. However, some states require postgraduate experience as well. Certifications for SLPs are also available, with similar requirements to state licensures.
SLPs study both aspects of speech, which includes verbal means of communication, and language, which includes the social aspects and understanding of communication. SLPs assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
SLPs work with all patient populations; from neonates to geriatrics. Speech and language disorders can be primary problems, or can be the result of other medical conditions. SLPs assist in the rehabilitation and care of patients experiencing a variety of disorders and disabilities, such as those associated with multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, autism, premature birth, and genetic disorders. Common duties and responsibilities of SLPs include:
• Evaluate levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty
• Identify treatment options
• Create and carry out an individualized treatment plan that addresses specific functional needs
• Teach children and adults how to make sounds and improve their voices and maintain fluency
• Help individuals improve vocabulary and sentence structure used in oral and written language
• Work with children and adults to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow
• Counsel individuals and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders
Beginning in the 1920s, the role of the speech language pathologist emerged in response to soldiers with brain injuries returning from the war. Over the next 100 years speech language pathology has grown and developed into a profession that offers a wide range of services for patients of all ages. Be sure to acknowledge your favorite Speech Language Pathologist for the role they play in healthcare!
