About the Profession of Speech - Language Pathology

• National projections show a growing need for speech-language pathologists (SLP) in all settings.
• SLPs are knowledgeable about the nature, evaluation and treatment of all types of communication problems that affect interpersonal communication.
• SLPs work with speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages. 
• SLPs determine the extent to which they can provide and/or recommend adequate services for habilitation or rehabilitation of persons with the following disorders:
  • Articulation
  • Fluency
  • Voice and resonance (including respiration and phonation)
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Hearing (including the impact on speech and language)
  • Swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding;  orofacial myofunction)
  • Cognitive assessments of communication (attention, memory, sequencing, problem–solving, executive functioning )
  • Social aspects of communication (challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, and lack of communication opportunities)
  • Communication modalities (including oral, manual, augmentative and alternative communication techniques, and assistive technologies.

In addition, SLPs conduct research; supervise and direct clinical programs; develop new products and methods; manage agencies, clinics or private practices; and teach in universities and other settings.

SLP’s work in many settings, including:

• Public schools
• Hospitals, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facitlies
• Private Clinics
• University Centers
• Health Centers
• Government Agencies and many other settings

ASHA

The American Speech-Language Hearing  Association  (ASHA) sets the standards for attainment of the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).  To be eligible to apply for the CCC, students at TWU must:

• Complete a Master’s Degree in SLP and other coursework required by ASHA including a biological science, physics, statistics, and a social science. 
• Clinical practicum which includes a minimum of 400 clock hours across all disorder types and ages to obtain knowledge and skill competencies
• Passage of the PRAXIS National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology
• Completion of a 9 month (full-time) clinical fellowship 

For more information about the profession, see the ASHA  website’s Fact Sheet for Speech-Language Pathology,