Speech Language Pathologist

Lauryn Kepsel

Career Summary
Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat and help to prevent
disorders. The disorders that they work with are related to speech, language,
cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing and fluency. They work with people
who cannot produce speech sounds or pronounce them clearly. They also work
with people who have difficulties swallowing, rhythm and fluency problems,
people with voice disorders, problems understanding and producing language and
those with cognitive communication impairments (Redlands, 2015). These

professionals work with people of all ages who identify as Moderately Cognitively
Impaired (MoCI), Severely Cognitively Impaired (SCI), Severely Multiply
Impaired (SXI), and autism. Working with physicians, psychologists and teachers
to carefully monitor the patients progress.
Keeping records are crucial to this job, having these records shows the
patients difficulties that arise throughout their lives and whether or not the patient
is growing. Speech language pathologists may also work with patients whove
been in accidents or other traumatic incidents who are in need of learning or
relearning daily needs (Goyer, 2015).
They also play a big part in providing therapy and support to patients
families. Having meeting with the patients family to talk about what they need to
improve on, how they will help them in the future, and where they are today is also
very rewarding to them (Bureau, 2015). Every speech therapist needs to be
compassionate, open minded, a team player, organized, people person, flexible,
willing to learn and make mistakes, hard working, motivated, and a problem
solver. These characteristics are crucial in doing this career.

Education, Training, Credentialing Professional Association, and

Career-related Data and Statistics
To become a speech language pathologist, you are required to complete your
Masters degree. After graduating, the speech language pathologists complete their
clinical fellowship year. It is also required to be supervised for 1,260 hours by a
certified speech language pathologist. Their mentor who evaluates their
performance, is based on a minimum of 18 hours of direct observation. In addition
to these requirements, Michigan speech language pathologists are required to be
certified through the state (Redlands, 2015). It is not required to be certified
through the national association, but it is widely recognized by many employers.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2012 to 2022, job growth
is expected to go up 19 percent. Also recording to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the median salary of 2014 was $71,550 (Bureau, 2016)
Students and recent graduates may obtain training by working in
rehabilitation facilities, schools and other diagnostic and treatment centers. It is
voluntary in most states, the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech
Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) credential offered by the ASHA is required by
many employers. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2009, 47
states required licensure for speech language pathologists working in health care
facilities. Some states require state licensure and teacher certification for these
professionals working in public schools (Bureau, 2016).

Interview
1. Why

did you decide to become a speech pathologist?

a. In college, I decided I wanted to work with younger children, as I
quickly noticed articulation errors or others using incorrect grammar. While in an
undergraduate Special Education course, the topic of ancillary/itinerant staff arose
and speech language pathology was discussed. Prior to this class, I had no idea
speech language pathology was a career option! I observed a speech language
pathologist as part of required coursework and fell in love with the field. I knew
that was the career I had been searching for without even knowing it existed!

2. What education and preparation is required to become a speech language

pathologist?
a. Speech language pathologists are required to complete their
Masters Degree. After graduating, the SLP completes her clinical fellowship year
(CFY) and is required to be supervised for 1,260 hours by a certified SLP.
b. In addition to this education, Michigan SLPs are required to be
certified through the state. It is not required to be certified through the national
association, but it is widely recognized by many employers. I have not met a
speech language pathologist who is not certified through the American SpeechLanguage Hearing Association (ASHA).
3. What is your favorite thing about your job?

a. I cant narrow it down to one thing. I love the students, first and
foremost. Seeing an increase in communication is always amazing. I enjoy my coworkers, both educators and other SLPs. Also, I enjoy that this field is always
changing novel ideas that came out when I graduated are now deemed outdated
due to technological advances.
4. What is the most rewarding thing that you do?
a. Having parents notice a sizeable change in their childs ability to
communicate is hugely rewarding. I love speaking with parents at meetings
because I get to talk about all of the things they can do and all of the opportunities
were providing to improve their expressive and receptive language skills.
5. What is the most difficult thing about your job?
a. Honestly, its the fact that there arent enough hours in the day and
that I cant be in multiple places at once (for the good, the bad, and the ugly).
6. What is your experience with patients with cognitive disabilities?
a. The building in which I am located specifically provides education
for students with cognitive impairments. We have classrooms for students
identified as Moderately Cognitively Impaired (MoCI), Severely Cognitively
Impaired (SCI), and Severely Multiply Impaired (SXI). It is so critical for fellow
educators to understand that students often dont have the means to show you
what they know and they should not be cast aside just because a student has a
label of SXI or a reported low IQ.
7. Are you experienced with patients who have autism?
a. Absolutely! We have several students with autism in our building.
They are the coolest kids! I am also still in contact with one of my high school
peers with autism.
8. What is your most challenging cases and how did you deal with them?
a. My students with multiple barriers (physical limitations, cognitive
impairments, limited fine motor control, adverse behaviors, etc) are the hardest
cases and its really because theyre hard to completely figure out! We cant just
recommend an iPad app or a generic switch because multiple modifications are
necessary for any communication or interaction to occur.
9. Describe one of your greatest accomplishments with a client.
a. Weve introduced PODD (Pragmatic Organization Dynamic
Display) to the students at our center program. This low-tech communication
book has opened SO many doors for our students. Theres this cool paradigm shift
Im noticing were breaking away from limiting our students to 2 or 3 choices
and really focusing on genuine, autonomous communication (i.e., being able to
say what you want to say, when you want to say it and to whom you want to say
it). Several students in the SXI classroom are utilizing PODDs to request new
toys, greet teachers, make predictions, and write poetry!
10. How would you deal with a situation in which you suspected a case of child

abuse?
a. These cases are so difficult because we always want whats best for
the student. Any suspicion is immediately reported to the school nurse and

administrator. We have seen cases of suspected abuse since I was hired. Im

thankful to have such an amazing team of educators who dont let this sort of
thing go unnoticed or just brush it off.

Work-based Learning Summary and Outcomes

There is an attached documentation of 18 hours of job shadowing. I had the
privilege to work with Carolyn OHearn. This took place at my school, Lapeer
County Intermediate School District, located 690 N. Lake Pleasant Road, Attica,
MI 48412. She is a certified and licensed Speech Language Pathologist. She works
in the school, that provides special education services for cognitively impaired
students. Here, she interacts with students who are from the ages of 3 to 26 years
old. She works with a team of professionals to collaborate ideas for every student
in need. Sitting in meetings, giving presentations, working with each students
families, and running IEPs and 504 Plans is an almost everyday routine.
Having the friendly, kind, caring, passionate, and helping attitude is required
for this job and she had that. You could tell that each and every student she
interacted with was very pleased with her. Their are good and bad days for some of
the students but a team of professionals help them out.
Carolyn has many obstacles and problems that need to be solved every day.
This includes finding the best way for a student to communicate. The program
provides a few apps that help the students with communicating.
Also working with the students families plays a big role. The school
provides things that cant be provided at home, this means that they have to work
with the families to figure something out for when they leave school, too.
Sometimes it is hard to collaborate on how to deal with certain things. Helping the

parents and telling them how well their child is progressing and how they could
improve is an important part also.

MLA Citation
Website Article by Bureau of Labor Statistics
"Speech-Language Pathologists." Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of
Labor, 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 Dec. 2015.
Website Article by Bureau of Labor Statistics
Speech Pathology Education and Training Requirements Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 2016. Web. 19 Dec. 2015.
Website Article by Erika Goyer
"Speech Language Pathologist." Hand to Hold Family Support Navigator. 24 July
2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Website Article by Explore Health Careers
"Speech Language Pathologist." Redlands. American Dental Education
Association, 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.