Speech Language Pathologist

A Speech Pathologist, or Speech Therapist, is responsible for helping people communicate and swallow appropriately. Their duties include assessing patients, diagnosing disorders than can impact swallowing and speaking and providing treatment for their patients.

Speech Pathologist duties and responsibilities

Speech Pathologists often work with individuals who experience voice disorders such as harsh voice or inappropriate pitch or who are unable to understand language. They are responsible for completing administrative tasks including documenting billing information and keeping accurate records of initial evaluations, diagnoses, treatment progress and any treatment plan notes. In addition, they are responsible for:

• Evaluating levels of swallowing, speech and language difficulty
• Identifying treatment options
• Creating and carrying out individualized treatment plans addressing specific functional needs
• Teaching patients how to make sounds while improving their voices and maintaining fluency
• Helping individuals improve sentence structure and vocabulary used in written and oral language
• Working with adults and children in developing and strengthening muscles used to swallow
• Counseling individuals and families on ways to cope with swallowing and communication disorders