Speech and Language Therapist Career Description
The aim of these careers is to help babies, children and adults who have communication disorders, to overcome or reduce their communication handicaps.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
Speech-language therapy
Speech-language therapy entails the assessment and remediation of people of all ages with specific speech disorders. These disorders include articulation problems, stuttering, cleft lip and palate and language disorders such as delayed language development, as well as the language problems that may be present after a stroke.
The diagnosis and remediation procedures cover all forms and degrees of communication disorders - from the person with a mild speech defect due to abnormal dentition, to the person with severe brain injury who has no speech and is thus dependent on sign language or even a computer. Parent counseling and training is also part of speech-language therapists' duties.
Audiology
Audiology entails the diagnosis (testing) of hearing problems in people of all ages and includes the selection and fitting of hearing aids as well as therapy for the hearing-impaired. This therapy is aimed at improving language, speech and lip-reading abilities.
The treatment of persons with cochlear implants is one of the therapeutic measures audiologists apply. Audiologists can also provide therapy to overcome listening problems that can lead to learning disabilities.
Although speech-language therapists and audiologists are primarily concerned with diagnosis, therapy and prevention, they also have other roles to fulfill. The most important of these are empathy towards the communication-impaired person, consultation with other professionals, education regarding
communication disorders and research pertaining to the science of communication disorders.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? The qualities required for speech-language therapists and audiologists are as follows:
» Sensitivity and concern for the problems of other people.
» Warmth, caring and empathy for people.
» The need to help others realise their potential.
» The ability to accept new ideas.
» The willingness to do research and to contribute new information.
Where can I work?
Speech-language therapists and audiologists are employed by the following institutions: departments of education, hospitals, paramedic clinics, universities and community centres.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
It is possible to register as a private practitioner and to open a private practice.
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