by Savanna Roldan - SLP at Always Keep Progressing
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
You may have heard many different titles for a Speech-Language Pathologist including Speech Therapist, Speech teacher, or even the acronym SLP. No matter the title, a Speech- Language Pathologist wears many hats. They can evaluate and treat different areas related to speech, language and swallowing. According to the American Speech- Language Hearing Association a Speech- Language Pathologist role is described as the following: “Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.”
Who can a Speech-Language Pathologist treat?
Speech Language Pathologist provides services to individuals throughout the lifespan. Birth to elderly individuals, there is no age limit.
Where can you find a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Speech-Language Pathologists work in many different settings including-
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- Hospital
- School
- Outpatient clinic
- Colleges and Universities
- Rehabilitation Center
Why visit a Speech- Language Pathologist?
Speech-Language Pathologist’s work on more than a tricky ‘r’ or work on an airy ‘s’ sound. These professionals treat and evaluate communication skills and swallowing abilities across the lifespan from infants to adults. Here are some of the areas they may address with various clients-
Speech- articulating sounds and producing them in words, phrase, sentences, and conversations
Language- understanding things you hear/read and expressing wants/needs, thoughts and/or ideas
Pragmatics- following social rules such as using greetings, asking for clarification, utilizing personal space, reading body language, etc.
Cognitive Communication- skills such as organizing, memorizing, attending, problem solving, etc.
Swallowing- swallowing mechanisms, oral cavity for chewing, and sucking.
Literacy- reading, writing, and spelling
Fluency- disfluencies in speech also known as stuttering. Speech may sound bumpy such as “ssssssnake”
Voice- the sound of a voice. A voice may sound hoarse, too quiet, too loud, etc.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)- finding ways to communicate other than using verbal speech. This may mean using a speech generating device, a low tech device, etc.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the services a Speech-Language Pathologist can provide. There are numerous disorders and deficits a Speech-Language Pathologist can treat.
Speech and Language Therapy in Miami
At Always Keep Progressing Miami, our trained bilingual speech therapists provide services specifically tailored to each individual child to help grow their independence and fine-tune their speaking skills. If you are concerned with your child’s speech development, an SLP can help answer any of your questions!
Contact us for an evaluation if you are interested in our services!
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References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Speech-Language Pathologists. Job Description and Career Information. https://www.asha.org/Students/Speech-Language-Pathologists/.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Who Are Speech-Language Pathologists, and What Do They Do? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/who-are-speech-language-pathologists/.
