Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathology (SLP) is an accredited profession focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of communication effectiveness, disorders, differences, and delays in children and adults. Speech-language pathologists work with the full range of communication including speech, listening, language, reading, writing, and cognition; however, assessment and treatment of signed languages are typically not part of their formal training and are a recently emerging part of their role. Speech-language pathologists must earn a graduate degree that includes clinical experiences, and then pass a national examination in order to practice. Speech-language pathologists provide services to a wide range of individuals [Page 924]with communication needs, many of whom are not deaf. Speech-language pathologists often work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, community and private clinics, personal care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. They also often work as part of a team with teachers, physicians, audiologists, psychologists, occupational and physiotherapists, social workers, and counselors.

The SLP profession is primarily based on a clinical model, emphasizing the individual as both the source and the solution to the problem (or communication disorder). Treatment approaches, therefore, focus on fixing the diagnosed problem to achieve normal communication. Although some treatment methods include alternative and/or augmented communication (such as picture or symbol boards, speech-generating devices, and signed languages), these are primarily viewed as a means to achieve the more desired form of communication, which is speech. Within the framework of the clinical model, the specialized preparation of speech-language pathologists also provides an understanding of the complex interaction between language (spoken, written, signed) and thinking skills and how development in one area can influence development in another. This understanding shifts the emphasis from simply fixing disorders to enhancing an individual’s overall communicative competence, or his or her ability to understand and use one or more languages effectively in a variety of sociocultural contexts. Such an understanding is necessary to facilitate the communication, academic, and literacy abilities of deaf people, and particularly those who use signed languages.

The general scope of practice for speech-language pathologists includes, but is not limited to, the following professional activities (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2002):

• 1.
  providing prevention, consultation, assessment, treatment, and follow-up services for disorders of speech (i.e., articulation, fluency, resonance, and voice); language (i.e., phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatic/social aspects of communication), including comprehension and expression in oral, written, graphic, and manual modalities; language processing (i.e., preliteracy and language-based literacy skills, including phonological awareness); and swallowing functions (i.e., using instrumentation for observation and monitoring, such as videofluoroscopy, EMG, nasendoscopy, and computer technology, and selecting and establishing effective use of prosthetic/adaptive devices for swallowing and communication);
• 2.
  establishing augmentative and alternative communication techniques and strategies including developing, selecting, and prescribing systems and devices;
• 3.
  providing services to individuals with hearing loss and their families/caregivers (e.g., auditory training, speechreading, speech and language intervention secondary to hearing loss, visual inspection and listening checks of amplification devices); and
• 4.
  collaborating in the assessment of central auditory processing disorders and providing intervention where there is evidence of speech, language, and/or other cognitive-communication disorders.

Speech-language pathologists have expertise in the areas of language acquisition, language development, bilingualism, and literacy that can be applied to working effectively with children and adults who are deaf and use signed language to communicate. In collaboration with other team members, including teachers, ASL specialists, family support workers, and early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists contribute to effectively implementing the following professional

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