Trauma Survivors Network - provided by ATS

Survive. Connect. Rebuild.

A Program of the ATS

Speech Therapist (Speech Language Pathologist)

Speech Therapists or Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are allied health professionals who assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, swallowing, and other related disorders. Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly; those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders.

Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including stroke, brain injury, learning disabilities, voice pathology, hearing loss, or emotional problems. Speech-language pathologists counsel individuals and their families concerning communication disorders and how to cope with the stress and misunderstanding that often accompany them. They also work with family members to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede communication and treatment and show them communication-enhancing techniques to use at home.

In medical facilities, speech therapists may perform their job in conjunction with physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists. While in schools, they collaborate with teachers, special educators, interpreters, other school personnel, and parents to develop and implement individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities. Some speech-language pathologists conduct research on how people communicate. Others design and develop equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating speech problems.

In the United States, speech therapists must complete a master's degree and pass a national examination to practice.

Weblink to US Department of Labor Speech Language Pathologists: Speech Language Pathologists

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_therapist
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos099.htm