From the article: Speech Pathologist: Career Profile
When choosing a career, it is helpful to get information about it from those who actually work in the occupation one is considering. Please share information about your career as a speech pathologist so that those thinking of entering this field can make an informed decision.
- Describe what you do as a speech pathologist?
- What do you like about being a speech pathologist? What don't you like about it?
- With the proper training, how easy or difficult is it for someone to get an entry level job as a speech pathologist?
- Are you happy you became a speech pathologist? Why or why not?
School SLP
- I am an elementary school SLP. I work from 8-3:30 at the school with kids from PreK to 5th grade. I work with kids with different disorders like: stuttering, articulation, language, swallowing, voice, etc. School SLPs are members of the team that identifies, evaluates, and treats kiddos with such problems. I spend my days testing and treating! I like that every 30 minutes, I get a new batch of kids and I work with them in small groups. I wanted to be a teacher, but I did not like managing 30 kids at a time, so I went into speech. I do not like that a lot of my time goes into meetings and paperwork, but I understand that it keeps everyone accountable and protects the kiddo, families, schools, and teachers in the process. If you can manage to make it through grad school, then you will have no trouble finding a job right out. Even in this economy, I can send my resume and be hired in a minute. I am happy with my choice to become an SLP. I know that I have job security and I go home happy.
- —Guest Kris
Lead Speech Pathologist
- I love my job: the variety of disorders, the appreciative people I treat & the satisfaction of helping people get back their abilities. Also my co-workers add to my job satisfaction. Rehab professionals are fun & energetic. The paperwork will always be a struggle but I focus on the positives of the job and there are many.
- —Guest Ann Johnson
Owner ADVANCE SPEECH (San Diego CA)
- I LOVE what I do. The variety of people, ages, settings, disorders, and education you need is never ending. I love having the chance to make a real difference in the lives of individuals. Some of the frustrations I encountered working for a health-care facility or education-system included having to confine the clients care to a pre-determined number of sessions, or having to "qualify" a person based upon criteria that are pre-determined and do not take into account the needs of the individual and how you can assist them. In many cases, progress was (artificially) limited and sometimes the system caused the individual to stop care before completing goals. Also, the paperwork can be daunting and sometimes feels as if it's at the expense of patient-contact time. I now own a private practice and aside from the paperwork, I do not have to restrict patient care in these ways. I simply abide by state and ASHA standards to provide the best care possible.
- —Guest Deborah Ross
