A speech pathologist is a medical professional who helps people improve their speech and communication if they are sick, injured or have a chronic disability.
Speech pathologist also known as speech-language pathologist (SLP) or Speech Therapist.
This article examines the important work speech-language pathologists do as part of a team of rehabilitation professionals. You will learn what conditions they treat and when you should seek the services of a speech therapist.
What Speech Pathologists Do:
A speech therapist is a trained medical professional who works with injured or ill patients who have difficulty speaking or swallowing. They work to prevent, assess and treat language, swallowing and communication disorders in adults and children. These disorders can result from injury or chronic disability.2
Speech-language pathologists help people communicate, and this may involve:
- Expressive communication: The ability to communicate verbally and nonverbally
- Receptive communication: The ability to understand verbal and nonverbal communications
So if you have trouble forming words to speak, your speech therapist can help. If you are having difficulty understanding language or speech, a speech therapist can offer treatment.2
Some speech-language pathologists work closely with audiologists (medical professionals who treat hearing and balance problems) to make sure you’re able to hear and understand language correctly. Others work with otolaryngologists, also called otolaryngologists (ENT), to help patients swallow food and drink safely and to help patients with oral motor function.
where Pathologists work:
There are a variety of settings in which speech-language pathologists work. This may include:
- Schools
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Private practices
Speech-language pathologists may also work as educators in colleges and universities, and they may be involved in research.
