Speech Pathologist

                             Speech Pathologist

Duties and Responsibilities: Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients. 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 problems. When diagnosing patients, speech-language pathologists typically do the following:

       ·         Communicate with patients to evaluate their levels of speech or language difficulty

      ·         Determine the extent of communication problems by having a patient complete basic reading and vocalizing tasks or by giving standardized tests

      ·         Identify treatment options

       ·         Create and carry out an individualized treatment plan

Salary: $44,380

Education: The standard level of education for speech-language pathologists is a master’s degree. Although master’s programs do not specify a particular undergraduate degree for admission, certain courses must be taken before entering the program. Required courses vary by institution. Graduate programs often include courses in age-specific speech disorders, alternative communication methods, and swallowing disorders. These programs also include supervised clinical practice in addition to coursework.