What is Speech Language Pathology?

Speech Language Pathology is the study of speech, language and swallowing disorders.

Speech Language Pathologists deal with the diagnosis, prevention, rehabilitation and habilitation of communication, swallowing and upper aerodigestive disorders.

Speech Language Pathologists provide many services including:

Preventing, screening, consulting, assessing, diagnosing, treating and providing follow-up services for disorders of:

Speech (ex. fluency, articulation, voice)

Language (ex. morphology, phonology, pragmatics, semantics)

Swallowing

Aspects of communication involving cognitive aspects (ex. memory and attention)

Alternative or augmentative communication strategies and use of special communication devices

Servicing people with hearing disorders and those in their lives (ex. speechreading, auditory training)

The use of instrumentation, such as video fluoroscopy and stroboscopy, to observe and measure limits of communication and swallowing.

The education and counseling of the community regarding accepting, accommodating and making decisions regarding communication and swallowing disorders.

Working with educators and other professionals when necessary.

Speech Language Pathologists work with all age groups in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, clinics and universities.

Visit these helpful sites to gain more insight into the profession of speech language pathology

The Speech Language Pathologist @ http://home.ica.net/~fred.

Careers in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology http://www.unh.edu/communication-disorders/careers.html.