CCC speech pathologists are able to work in a wide range of settings with many types of people. They are certified nationally in all areas of treatment, though they can specialize in specific areas based on their expertise. This article describes how the profession of speech therapy developed and how today's therapists conduct treatment.
Misconceptions
When you think of a speech therapist, you may think of teachers, schoolchildren and lisps. Speech therapists, also known as speech-language therapists or SLPs, are responsible for much more than this stereotype suggests. SLPs work in many different settings, addressing not only issues of pronunciation but also other related areas such as cognitive processing, swallowing and communication.
Types
Speech therapists address a wide spectrum of communication and swallowing disorders in their clients, including voice control, speech volume, word finding and association, advanced problem solving skills and difficulty swallowing, to name only a few. Along with audiologists, SLPs are licensed nationally by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or ASHA, who award a Certificate of Clinical Competence, or CCC. In order to get a CCC, a speech therapist must graduate from a master's- or doctoral-level program and pass the national board exam. After this initial credentialing, SLPs must meet ASHA's yearly continuing education requirements for recertification.
History
According to ASHA, speech therapy was born in the early 1900s out of special interest groups who developed early an SLP curriculum as well as assessment tools for the field. These early pioneers of speech therapy also established standards to which those with communicative disorders could be compared. Many of the key members of these early groups went on to found ASHA itself. Today, aspiring speech therapists must have a bachelor's degree and specified prerequisites in order to apply for acceptance into an accredited SLP master's program.
Function
A speech therapist's function in the multi-disciplinary medical team varies. In school settings, they may assist children through the developmental stages of speech, if problems such as stuttering or annunciation are apparent. In a neurological setting, they can help patients recovering from strokes or brain injury to effectively communicate if they have difficulties expressing themselves. In trauma, a speech therapist may assist a patient to use a communication board if they are unable to speak. In geriatrics, SLPs may teach clients swallowing exercises or recommend alternative food consistencies to avoid choking during mealtimes.
Benefits
The benefits of working with a CCC speech therapist are easily measured through standardized assessments that chart client progress from beginning to end. However, there are many things which cannot be measured. Pediatric and adult clients alike gain confidence with their speech. Clients with swallowing disorders learn to handle regular foods again without the risk of aspiration. Those using alternative communication devices can once again interact with the world. They all have a speech therapist to thank.
Tags: speech therapist, speech therapy, Speech therapists, swallowing disorders