Speech and Language Therapist

Career as Speech and Language Therapist is a career that deals with the people who have problems in speaking. This does not mean that they do not know how to speak but generally, they have problems in speaking same rhythmic words.

The problems that are treated in Career as Speech and Language Therapist can be of many types like:

Difficulty in making and using speech
Difficulty in understanding and using the Language
Difficulty in chewing, gulping and eating
Voice Problem
Stammering

The cited problems can arise due to strokes, neurological diseases, mouth or throat cancer, head injury etc. The patients can be of any age group.

Tasks:
As Career as Speech and Language Therapist deals with the patients of all age group; so, they perform their duties by molding them according to the persons' need. The different tasks are:

They evaluate the results of speech and language test and then set the therapy plan.
They administer hearing, speech/language by taking the written and oral tests.
They keep a record of all the tests so that patient's improvement can be graphed out.
They instruct the patients for more effective communication by voice improvement and lip-reading.
They teach patients to control or toughen tongue so that the clarity of voice increases.
They train the family members to help the patients in their speech.
They pass on the person for further medical or educational services if needed.
They use sign language for non-speaking patients.
They participate and conduct the training for the treatment procedures.
They develop the exercise programs for different disability patient.
They must be good in analyzing the causes, particulars of the problem.
They teach the basic things and sign language to attendants. This is helpful when the doctor is not present.
They teach the patients to eat and swallow. This is helpful to the patients with oral motor difficulty.
They arrange the interactive sessions. In these types of sessions, the patients get chance to interact with each other. These sessions are also beneficial as they improve self-confidence in person.
They sometimes, select the dispute technique, to treat the patients who have lost confidence in speaking. Many times, this technique is used for a person who does not speak at all.
They must be good in gaining trust of a person. This will help in finding out the actual problem by which the patient is afraid of speaking.

Educational Qualification:
To pursue Career as Speech and Language Therapist the person should have following qualifications:

Bachelor of Science, Speech and Language Therapy
Masters of Science, Speech and Language Therapy
Doctorate Degree, Speech and Language Therapy
Certification Courses

Other Necessary Skills:
Other than the license and education, a person must have certain personal skills. These skills can help the person make the patients more comfortable. The skills for Career as Speech and Language Therapist are:

They must have the good knowledge of Language so that they can teach others.
They must be good in teaching others.
They must be good in time management so that the tests can be taken on regular basis.
They must be very innovative. This is useful while dealing with children.
They must very good in monitoring the patients.
They must be good listeners, so that they can understand their patients well.

Places of Work:
In Career as Speech and Language Therapist, a person has different work areas:

Hospitals
Multi Specialty Clinics
Schools for Special Children
Residence (for special clients)
Day Care Centers
Own Clinic

Job Opportunity:
Career as Speech and Language Therapist has fine opportunities to work. The opportunity increases for the therapists who are competent in two languages. Because of this, more of patients are attracted to them. The career also has good options if one serves as 'visiting' therapists. Most of the therapists work as private practitioners, as this provides work time flexibility.

Remuneration:
Career as Speech and Language Therapist is good in terms of income. The salary is average in Government hospitals, but as one gains experience, it increases. Generally, private hospitals and clinics offer healthier salary than the government ones. The earning of person having their own clinic depends upon the number of patients.

Job Progress:
Career as Speech and Language Therapist has plenty of ways to progress. They can start their career by working in government hospitals. Later by gaining experience can switch to private hospitals and practice for better income. In addition, they can have their own clinics. Some highly qualified intellectuals can opt for the research field.

Employment Forecast:
Nowadays, it has been observed, that the parents take a lot of care of the special children. As several hospitals are getting established, special units for these kinds of patients are set up, so the Career as Speech and Language Therapist is benefited greatly. Even many big health organizations are also taking interest in this area. With the help of government, many private bodies have opened special schools also. Hence, the career is expected to be fine for future concern.