Speech Pathologist: Responsibilities and Current Trends

1. Speech Pathologist Responsibilities and Current Trends

2. Table of Contents • Introduction • Responsibilities of a Speech Pathologist • Current Emerging Trends in Speech Pathology

3. Introduction • Speech pathologists are highly trained and qualified with different qualifications, which range from state to state. However, there are standard requirements for becoming speech pathologists with the following educational background and certifications: • Undergraduate in Communication Sciences and Disorders • CAA – accredited degree in Speech-Language pathology • A 36-week Postgraduate fellowship which requires a temporary license valid for one year during practice • National exam Praxis 2: Subject Assessment in speech-language pathology to earn the state license to practice • Professional certification for Speech-Language Pathology Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP)

4. Responsibilities of a Speech Pathologist • Consultation • When a patient visits a speech pathologist, there is a consultation session to identify the root cause of speech difficulty. The clinician reviews individual backgrounds to ascertain the best course of action and the methods which will work for each patient. • Treatment plans • After the consultation, speech pathologists develop a suitable treatment plan in light of the information they get from the patient. The programs are created by performing tests and examinations before treatment by evaluating speech and hearing, and checking whether there is coordination. This, combined with their team's professional assessment and recommendations, structures a viable treatment plan spread out in several sessions to achieve the intended result.

5. Responsibilities of a Speech Pathologist… • By collaborating with other specialists who focus on additional care plans like physical, nursing, and occupational therapists, the patient is assured of a well-rounded approach in their progress. Treatment plans for patients may consist of developing and employing diagnostic communication strategies and techniques that aid the formation of speech and help the patient progress past their communication block. • Speech pathologists are also responsible for creating language and speech programs for different clients to follow. This depends entirely on the patient's age, level of speech damage, and underlying medical problems. The clinician often adjusts treatment plans after close observation and monitoring to determine the best course of treatment for each patient.

6. Responsibilities of a Speech Pathologist… • Evaluation • Through extensive and well-researched treatment plans, patients often record significant improvement and can communicate after several sessions. During this time, the speech pathologist will have recorded the patient's progress, which will help them establish an evaluation report highlighting the progress used to determine the period of discharge. Due diligence is also done by the pathologist to sensitize the patient’s family on communicating and coping with possible speech and language barriers if they arise. • Product development • They also seek to develop speech and language programs designed for a broad client base. These programs are further manipulated to observe different patient types and evaluate the susceptibility of success.

7. Responsibilities of a Speech Pathologist… • After developing the plan, the pathologists also coordinate the various programs by packaging them to suit different medical needs and presenting them to other administrations. • Research and advocacy • For successful treatment programs and communication strategies, speech pathologists must conduct adequate research to identify different treatment options for other demographic groups. The study is also done to enhance speech and language services and identify new innovative procedures. By doing so, they advocate for the need for communication experts and speech therapies as a fundamental need in society.

8. Current Emerging Trends in Speech Pathology • With the recent developments in technology and medical advancements, speech pathologists embrace emerging trends to keep up with the demanding medical field. For instance, online platforms offer alternate career paths for speech pathologists, slowly changing the narrative, which cements speech pathologists in strictly medical fields. For example, pathologists can look into pediatric areas, school, education, adult swallowing techniques, technological advancement, and other various fields of involvement. • Technological advancements have also sought to ingrain innovative therapies into treatment plans. For instance, web and mobile applications to treatment applications have helped individuals develop their speech and language without necessarily having one-on-one sessions.

9. Current Emerging Trends in Speech Pathology • These applications have sought to solve challenges in the speech pathologist field by incorporating treatments for training programs and advancements in voice therapy, helping individuals in need of voice changes by observing different frequencies to modulate their voices. • There are more insurers covering speech and language therapies with an emphasis on preventive medicine expected to take center stage in speech pathology. Genetic research to aid in brain ad tissue transplants will also help prevent hereditary and neurological disorders preventing many more conditions that may arise as a result. • The use of Artificial Intelligence will seek to revolutionize this career sector by including engineered robotics, electronic data processing, and voice and speech recognition to assist patients in their treatment plans.

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