| Speech pathologists, otherwise called speech | | | | facilities including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, |
| language pathologists (SLP), are healthcare | | | | rehab clinics, public and private schools, community |
| professionals who work with people who have | | | | clinics, colleges, universities, home health agencies, |
| speech, language, voice, swallowing and | | | | long term care facilities, state and local health |
| communication related disorders. They are | | | | departments, assistant living facilities, research |
| dedicated professionals who are committed to | | | | laboratories, and state and federal government |
| fulfilling the lives of others. This is a profession | | | | agencies. |
| which requires certain necessary qualities such as | | | | The duties of a speech pathologist include:o |
| innate kindness, consideration, patience and | | | | Treating disorders in individuals of all ages, from |
| understanding on the part of the practitioner. | | | | infants to the elderly.o Performing swallowing and |
| Speech pathologists are usually required in | | | | feeding evaluation.o Identifying normal and |
| educational institutions for providing treatment to | | | | abnormal swallowing anatomy and physiology.o |
| students with voice disorders. The earnings of a | | | | Developing treatment plans.o Providing treatments |
| speech pathologist depend on their experience, | | | | and documenting the progress.o Providing teaching |
| educational background, specialization and nature | | | | and counseling to individuals and their families.o |
| of work. However, the tremendous job | | | | Educating other professionals on the needs of |
| satisfaction one experiences by fulfilling the lives | | | | individuals with swallowing and feeding disorders.o |
| of others is itself considerable reward. | | | | Providing differential diagnostic information for |
| A person is eligible to apply for the job of a | | | | conditions other than communication disorders.o |
| speech pathologist only if he or she has a | | | | Serving as an advocate for persons with impaired |
| master's degree in speech pathology. Speech | | | | communication. |
| pathologists can acquire Certificate of Clinical | | | | Usually older persons are unable to travel to the |
| Competence (CCC) from the American | | | | speech pathologist, so speech pathologists must |
| Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). | | | | be prepared to go to a variety of community |
| Speech pathologists work in various healthcare | | | | sites to perform the required screenings. |