Speech-Language Pathologists

Summary

Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat a variety of speech, language, and swallowing disorders in patients.

Quick Facts: Speech-Language Pathologists
2010 Median Pay	$66,920 per year $32.17 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Master’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	123,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	23% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	28,800

What Speech-Language Pathologists Do

Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders in patients.

Work Environment

Most speech-language pathologists work in schools or healthcare facilities. Some work in patients’ homes.

How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a master’s degree. They must be licensed in most states; requirements vary by state.

Pay

The median annual wage of speech-language pathologists was $66,920 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment is expected to grow by 23 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population grows older, there will be more instances of health conditions that cause speech or language impairments, such as strokes, brain injuries, and hearing loss. This will result in increased demand for speech-language pathologists.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of speech-language pathologists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about speech-language pathologists by contacting these additional resources.

What Speech-Language Pathologists Do About this section

Speech-language pathologists must be able to listen to and communicate with their patient in order to determine the right course of treatment.

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.

Duties

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

When treating patients, speech-language pathologists typically do the following:

• Teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices
• Teach alternative communication methods, such as sign language, to patients with little or no speech capability
• Work with patients to increase their ability to read and write correctly
• Work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow
• Counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication disorders

Speech-language pathologists work with patients who have problems with speech, such as being unable to speak at all or speaking with difficulty, or with rhythm and fluency, such as stuttering. They may work with those who are unable to understand language or with people who have voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or a harsh voice.

Speech-language pathologists must also do various administrative tasks, including keeping good records. They record their initial patient evaluations and diagnoses, treatment progress, any changes in a patient’s condition or treatment plan, and, eventually, their final evaluation when the patient finishes the therapy.

Some speech-language pathologists specialize in working with specific age groups, such as children or the elderly. Others focus on treatment programs for specific communication or swallowing problems, such as those resulting from strokes or cleft palate.

In medical facilities, speech-language pathologists work with physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists. For more information, see the profiles on physicians and surgeons, social workers, and psychologists. In schools, they work with teachers, special educators, other school personnel, and parents to develop and carry out individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities. For more information, see the profiles on preschool, kindergarten and elementary school, middle school, high school, and special education teachers.

Work Environment About this section

Almost half of all speech-language pathologists work in schools.

Speech-language pathologists held about 123,200 jobs in 2010. Almost half of all speech-language pathologists work in schools. Most others work in healthcare facilities. Some work in patients’ homes.

The following industries employed the majority of speech-language pathologists in 2010:

Work Schedules

Most speech-language pathologists work full time. Those who work on a contract basis may spend a lot of time traveling between facilities.

How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist About this section

Speech-language pathologists might work with patients of any age.

Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a master’s degree. They must be licensed in most states; requirements vary by state.

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.

The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, accredits education programs in speech-language pathology. In 2010, the CAA accredited 253 master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology.

Licenses

Speech-language pathologists must be licensed in almost all states. A license requires at least a master’s degree and supervised clinical experience. Some states require graduation from an accredited program to get a license. For specific requirements, contact your state’s medical or health licensure board.

Certification

Speech-language pathologists can earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Certification satisfies some or all of the requirements for licensure and may be required by some employers.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Speech-language pathologists work with people who are often frustrated by their difficulties. Speech-language pathologists must be able to support emotionally demanding patients and their families.

Critical-thinking skills. Speech-language pathologists must be able to adjust their treatment plans as needed, finding alternative ways to help their patients.

Detail oriented. The work of speech-language pathologists requires intense concentration to listen to what patients are able to say and to help them improve their speech.

Listening skills. Speech-language pathologists must listen to a patient’s symptoms and problems to decide on a course of treatment.

Patience. Speech-language pathologists may work with people who need more time and attention.

Speaking skills. Speech-language pathologists need to communicate test results, diagnoses, and proposed treatments in a way that patients and their families can understand.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of speech-language pathologists was $66,920 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,970, and the top 10 percent more than $103,630.

Most speech-language pathologists work full time. Those who work on a contract basis may spend considerable time traveling between facilities to treat patients.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of speech-language pathologists is expected to grow by 23 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.

As the large baby-boom population grows older, there will be more instances of health conditions that cause speech or language impairments, such as strokes and hearing loss. These increases are expected to add to the number of speech and language disorders in the population and require more speech-language pathologists to treat these patients.

Increased awareness of speech and language disorders, such as stuttering, in younger children should also lead to a need for more speech-language pathologists who specialize in treating that age group.

In addition, medical advances are improving the survival rate of premature infants and victims of trauma and strokes, many of whom need help from speech-language pathologists.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about speech-language pathologists, a description of the CCC-SLP credential, and a listing of accredited graduate programs in speech-language pathology, visit

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

State licensing boards have information about licensure requirements. State departments of education can provide information about certification requirements for those who want to work in public schools.