Why Become a Speech Language Pathologist

Did you know that people of all ages may need speech therapy due to a number of reasons? Speech language pathologists make a difference in the lives of their patients by helping to improve their speech, language and communication skills. Learn more about what speech pathologists do. Here are five reasons why you should become a speech language pathologist:

3. You can work in a variety of settings. Not only do speech language pathologists help to improve communication skills but can also help with swallowing difficulties. One may have difficulty with speech or swallowing at any age. Speech language pathologists at Cornerstone Rehab work with older adults. Speech may become a difficult task as one ages. Speech therapy may also be necessary after recovery from a stroke or surgery. Speech language pathologists can be employed in a number of settings such as:

   1. Long-term care facilities i.e. Skilled Nursing Facilities

   2. Hospitals

   3. Outpatient clinics

   4. Rehabilitation centers

   5. Private clinics

4. As a speech language pathologist, you have the option to specialize. Since individuals of all ages may have a need for speech therapy, you can specialize depending on whether you prefer to work with children or older adults. This will allow you to exclusively work with a certain population. You can also further specialize by disorder type. Some speech disorders that allow specialization include:

   1. Swallowing disorders

   2. Stroke recovery

   3. Motor speech disorders

   4. Stuttering

   5. Early language intervention

5. Speech language pathology is a rewarding career. This career requires time in order to see the effect. Depending on the patient’s needs, therapy may be necessary for not only days but for weeks and months. It may seem mundane with the same exercises being repeated on a regular basis. However, when a patient is able to overcome their speech related disorders, success is achieved. Being able to help someone speak and gain more confidence in their speech is a greatly satisfying experience.

6. This field allows growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is predicted that the job outlook will grow at 25%. This is much faster than average. Approximately 40,500 more jobs are expected to be added to this field from 2019 to 2029. As of 2019, there were already 162,600 jobs across the nation.

7. You can work as a part of a team. Even though you may be providing one-on-one therapy to the patient, the treatment plan may require a collaborative team effort. Usually speech language pathologists work alongside physical therapists, occupational therapists and other like minded professionals. With an integrated treatment plan and team work, a patient is able to have a full recovery.

Learn more about job openings at Cornerstone Rehab to join our team of skilled clinicians.