Speech Therapist Job Description Information

Speech pathologists, also called speech-language pathologists, work with people who have disorders related to speech and language. They may work in medical settings, schools, offices or a client's home. Speech-language pathologists accounted for 119,300 jobs in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

Responsibilities

• Speech-language pathologists assess and provide treatment to clients who have problems producing speech sounds, difficulty with speech fluency such as stuttering, and cognitive communication impairments involving attention and memory. They use specially designed instruments and assessments such as standardized tests to diagnose disorders and develop individualized treatment plans.

Skills/Training

• The majority of speech-language pathologist jobs require a master's degree. Education in the field includes courses that teach anatomy, physiology and identification and treatment of speech and language disorders. Licensing and certification requirements vary by state and typically include a master's degree granted by an accredited school, passing a national examination, clinical training and continuing education. The ability to communicate with patients and families clearly and compassionately is a key skill for this profession.

Hours/Working Conditions

• Most speech-language pathologists work 40 hours a week in full-time positions. They frequently work in an office setting but may work in school classrooms or patient rooms in health care facilities. The job can be emotionally demanding and calls for high levels of concentration and attention to detail.

Compensation

• Annual base salaries for speech-language pathologists range from $56,212 to $78,295. The median base salary as of June 2010 was $66,421, according to data reported by Salary.com.

Job Prospects

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job market for speech-language pathologists will increase by 19 percent through 2018, faster than the average for all career fields. Candidates who speak a second language will have a significant advantage in the field.

Read more: Speech Pathology Job Description | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6596963_speech-pathology-job-description.html#ixzz1geNfI1rg

Speech Therapist Salary Information

Speech therapists, also known as speech pathologists, work with people of all ages to help them learn to speak or improve on their speaking problems. As a speech therapist, you may work with younger patients who stutter or are recovering from cleft palate surgery. Older patients may need assistance when recovering from a stroke or may want to learn how to eliminate a regional accent. Speech therapists also work with people who have problems swallowing.

According to PayScale in 2011, the national average salary for speech therapists in the U.S. was between $42,121 to $66,900. Salary.com reported the average compensation for speech therapists based on their geographical location in January 2011. In Kansas City, Missouri, the average salary for a speech pathologist was $67,225. In California, the compensation was significantly higher, with rates of $75,856 in Los Angeles and $82,884 in San Francisco. Smaller metro areas like Des Moines, Iowa, averaged salaries around $64,068. Birmingham, Alabama reported compensation around $65,226.

Read more: Speech Therapist Salaries | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7803316_speech-therapist-salaries.html#ixzz1geMit1rY

How to Become a Speech Therapist

The road to becoming a licensed speech therapist can be a long one, but if one has the dedication and fortitude to see it through, he or she is very likely to be happy in this wonderful and rewarding career.       

The first thing that one should do to become a speech therapist is to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. While this degree can really be in just about any subject, it is often beneficial to the individual to major in a somewhat related field. Commonly chosen majors by those who know they want to become speech therapists are Psychology, Special Education, Psychology of Exceptional Individuals, Social Work, Sociology, or various liberal arts degrees that prove one to be a well rounded individual. Good grades will be very important during the undergraduate phase of education, since these will often be the determining factor in whether or not one is accepted into a graduate institution.

After graduating, students will need to enroll in a fully accredited speech therapy master’s degree program. Again, grades and dedication will be incredibly important. Upon completion of this program, individuals may choose to seek licensure right away or they might opt to go on to a doctoral program. Many people choose to seek licensure and then later, once they are employed, attend a doctoral program in the hopes of advancing in the field. It is always up to the individual to decide the right path for himself or herself, and there is no “right way” to complete this step.

Licensure is perhaps the most important part of the process in becoming a speech therapist. Licensure will require completing a hands on, supervised internship, and this often causes some people to consider other careers. To avoid having this happen, one should be sure to research all things related to speech therapy thoroughly before ever pursing an education in the field. Licensure will also require one to pass a national exam and to prove one’s ability in the speech therapy field.

Upon completing licensure, there is nothing left to do except to find a job. Not everyone will like the very first job they receive straight after licensure, but this job should be regarded as a learning experience. No matter what the position, one should do his or her best. Often times, those who work hard will quickly be promoted to work at a higher level or will have an easier time finding other, more desirable positions even if they are in a different field.

Personality Traits of a Speech Therapist:

While no one personality type will guarantee success or failure in the speech therapy world, there are certain traits that most successful speech therapists will possess. These include patience, intelligence, determination, compassion, a strong ability to communicate with and empathize with others, discernment, a thorough understand of all aspects of speech therapy, and, of course, simple kindness. Of course, no one will be suitable for every single area of speech therapy. What is most important, even more so than one’s personality, is finding the right job for a particular person and for his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

Article Source: How to Become a Speech Therapist