Career
Center Resources
Nature of the Work | Working
Conditions | Employment
| Training, Other Qualifications,
and Advancement | Job Outlook
| Earnings | Related
Occupations | Sources of
Additional Information Significant Points Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help
to prevent speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing,
fluency, and other related disorders; audiologists identify, assess,
and manage auditory, balance, and other neural systems. Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot make speech
sounds, or cannot make them clearly; those with speech rhythm and
fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice quality
problems, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with
problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to
improve their communication skills by modifying an accent; and those
with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory,
and problem solving disorders. They also work with people who have
oral motor problems causing eating and swallowing difficulties. Speech and language problems can result from a variety of problems
including hearing loss, brain injury or deterioration, cerebral
palsy, stroke, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation,
or emotional problems. Problems can be congenital, developmental,
or acquired. Speech-language pathologists use written and oral tests,
as well as special instruments, to diagnose the nature and extent of impairment
and to record and analyze speech, language, and swallowing irregularities.
Speech-language pathologists develop an individualized plan of care,
tailored to each patient's needs. For individuals with little or
no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative
or alternative communication methods, including automated devices
and sign language, and teach their use. They teach these individuals
how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their language
skills to communicate more effectively. Speech-language pathologists
help patients develop, or recover, reliable communication skills
so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social
roles. Most speech-language pathologists provide direct clinical services
to individuals with communication or swallowing disorders. In speech
and language clinics, they may independently develop and carry out
treatment programs. In medical facilities, they may work with physicians,
social workers, psychologists, and other therapists. Speech-language
pathologists in schools develop individual or group programs, counsel
parents, and may assist teachers with classroom activities. Speech-language pathologists keep records on the initial evaluation,
progress, and discharge of clients. This helps pinpoint problems,
tracks client progress, and justifies the cost of treatment when
applying for reimbursement. They counsel individuals and their families
concerning communication disorders and how to cope with the stress
and misunderstanding that often accompany them. They also work with
family members to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede
communication and treatment and show them communication-enhancing
techniques to use at home. Some speech-language pathologists conduct research on how people
communicate. Others design and develop equipment or techniques for
diagnosing and treating speech problems. Audiologists work with people who have hearing, balance, and related
problems. They use audiometers, computers, and other testing devices
to measure the loudness at which a person begins to hear sounds,
the ability to distinguish between sounds, and the nature and extent
of hearing loss. Audiologists interpret these results and may coordinate
them with medical, educational, and psychological information to
make a diagnosis and determine a course of treatment. Hearing disorders can result from a variety of causes including
trauma at birth, viral infections, genetic disorders, exposure to
loud noise, or aging. Treatment may include examining and cleaning
the ear canal, fitting and dispensing hearing aids or other assistive
devices, and audiologic rehabilitation (including auditory training
or instruction in speech or lip reading). Audiologists may recommend,
fit, and dispense personal or large area amplification systems,
such as hearing aids and alerting devices. Audiologists provide
fitting and tuning of cochlear implants and provide the necessary
rehabilitation for adjustment to listening with implant amplification
systems. They also measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct
hearing protection programs in industry, as well as in schools and
communities. Audiologists provide direct clinical services to individuals with
hearing or balance disorders. In audiology (hearing) clinics, they
may independently develop and carry out treatment programs. Audiologists,
in a variety of settings, work as members of interdisciplinary professional
teams in planning and implementing service delivery for children
and adults, from birth to old age. Similar to speech-language pathologists,
audiologists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and
discharge of clients. These records help pinpoint problems, track
client progress, and justify the cost of treatment, when applying
for reimbursement. Audiologists may conduct research on types of, and treatment for,
hearing, balance, and related disorders. Others design and develop
equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating these disorders. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists usually work at a
desk or table in clean comfortable surroundings. The job is not
physically demanding but does require attention to detail and intense
concentration. The emotional needs of clients and their families
may be demanding. Most full-time speech-language pathologists and
audiologists work about 40 hours per week; some work part time.
Those who work on a contract basis may spend a substantial amount
of time traveling between facilities. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists held about 101,000
jobs in 2000. Speech-language pathologists held about 88,000 jobs;
and audiologists held about 13,000. About one-half of jobs for speech-language
pathologists and audiologists were in preschools, elementary and
secondary schools, or colleges and universities. Others were in
offices of speech-language pathologists and audiologists; hospitals;
offices of physicians; speech, language, and hearing centers; home
health agencies; or other facilities. Audiologists are more likely
to be employed in independent healthcare offices, while speech-language
pathologists are more likely to work in school settings. A small number of speech-language pathologists and audiologists
are self-employed in private practice. They contract to provide
services in schools, physician's offices, hospitals, or nursing
homes, or work as consultants to industry. Of the States that regulate licensing (45 for
speech-language pathologists and 47 for audiologists), almost all
require a master's degree or equivalent. Other requirements are
300 to 375 hours of supervised clinical experience, a passing score
on a national examination, and 9 months of postgraduate professional
clinical experience. Forty-one States have continuing education
requirements for licensure renewal. Medicaid, medicare, and private
health insurers generally require a practitioner to be licensed
to qualify for reimbursement. About 242 colleges and universities offer graduate programs in
speech-language pathology. Courses cover anatomy and physiology
of the areas of the body involved in speech, language, and hearing;
the development of normal speech, language, and hearing; the nature
of disorders; acoustics; and psychological aspects of communication.
Graduate students also learn to evaluate and treat speech, language,
and hearing disorders and receive supervised clinical training in
communication disorders. About 112 colleges and universities offer graduate programs in
audiology in the United States . Course work includes anatomy; physiology;
basic science; math; physics; genetics; normal and abnormal communication
development; auditory, balance and neural systems assessment and
treatment; audiologic rehabilitation; and ethics. Speech-language pathologists can acquire the Certificate of Clinical
Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered by the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and audiologists can
earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A).
To earn a CCC, a person must have a graduate degree and 375 hours
of supervised clinical experience, complete a 36-week postgraduate
clinical fellowship, and pass a written examination. According to
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as of 2007, audiologists
will need to have a bachelor's degree and complete 75 hours of credit
toward a doctoral degree in order to seek certification. As of 2012,
audiologists will have to earn a doctoral degree in order to be
certified. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists should be able to
effectively communicate diagnostic test results, diagnoses, and
proposed treatment in a manner easily understood by their clients.
They must be able to approach problems objectively and provide support
to clients and their families. Because a client's progress may be
slow, patience, compassion, and good listening skills are necessary. Employment of speech-language pathologists and audiologists is
expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations
through the year 2010. Because hearing loss is strongly associated
with aging, rapid growth in the population age 55 and over will
cause the number of persons with hearing impairment to increase
markedly. In addition, baby boomers are now entering middle age,
when the possibility of neurological disorders and associated speech,
language, and hearing impairments increases. Medical advances are
also improving the survival rate of premature infants and trauma
and stroke victims, who then need assessment and possible treatment.
In health services facilities, Federal legislation imposing limits
on reimbursement for therapy services may adversely affect the job
market for therapy providers over the near term. Employment in schools will increase along with growth in elementary
and secondary school enrollments, including enrollment of special
education students. Federal law guarantees special education and
related services to all eligible children with disabilities. Greater
awareness of the importance of early identification and diagnosis
of speech, language, and hearing disorders will also increase employment. The number of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in
private practice will rise due to the increasing use of contract
services by hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. In addition to
job openings stemming from employment growth, some openings for
speech-language pathologists and audiologists will arise from the
need to replace those who leave the occupation. Median annual earnings of speech-language pathologists were $46,640
in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,670 and $56,980.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,720, and the highest
10 percent earned more than $69,980. Median annual earnings in the
industries employing the largest numbers of speech-language pathologists
in 2000 were as follows: Hospitals $49,960 Median annual earnings of audiologists were $44,830 in 2000. The
middle 50 percent earned between $37,000 and $55,290. The lowest
10 percent earned less than $30,850, and the highest 10 percent
earned more than $68,570. According to a 2000 survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, the median annual salary for full-time certified speech-language
pathologists who worked 11 or 12 months annually was $44,000; for
audiologists, $48,000. For those who worked 9 or 10 months annually,
the median annual salary for speech-language pathologists was $41,000;
for audiologists, $45,000. Speech-language pathologists with doctorate
degrees who worked 11 or 12 months annually earned $62,500; and
audiologists, $70,000. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists specialize in the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language and
hearing problems. Workers in related occupations include occupational
therapists, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, recreational
therapists, and rehabilitation counselors. State licensing boards can provide information on licensure requirements.
State departments of education can supply information on certification
requirements for those who wish to work in public schools. General information on careers in speech-language pathology and
audiology is available from: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Information on a career in audiology is also available from: American Academy of AudiologySpeech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Employment of speech-language pathologists
and audiologists is expected to grow rapidly because the
growing population in older age groups is prone to medical
conditions that result in hearing and speech problems.
About half work in schools, and most others
are employed by healthcare facilities.
A master's degree in speech-language
pathology or audiology is the standard credential.
Nature of the Work
Working Conditions
Employment
Training, Other Qualifications,
and Advancement
Job Outlook
Earnings
Offices of other health practitioners 47,170
Elementary and secondary schools 43,710 Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Internet: http://www.asha.org/default.htm
8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite 300
McLean , VA 22102
