Speech-Language Pathology and SLPA Jobs
As a speech-language pathologist and speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA), you know that there's no universal method to help your students. There are actually hundreds of conditions—from developmental disabilities to cleft palates to emotional challenges—that can cause a student to require your care and expertise. Likewise, each of our speech-language pathology jobs gives you the opportunity to have a new and unique experience—working at a different school, in a different district and with individual students who are all exceptional in their own ways.
What Does a Speech-Language Pathologist and SLPA Do?
In any of our SLP jobs, your day-to-day responsibilities could shift from day-to-day. In addition to identifying and evaluating students' conditions, and administering speech therapy, you may have a specific area of focus, such as:
- Assessment, training and programming for augmentative communication disorders
- Oral motor and feeding therapy
- Social skills training
- Therapy for voice, fluency, expressive and receptive language and articulation
- Training of non-verbal communication, such as sign language, gesturing and picture exchange communication
If you are a speech-language pathology assistant, then your main responsibility is assisting the SLP that supervises you. This assistance from an SLPA can come in a variety of different ways including providing supplemental therapy services, helping a student with the use of assistive technology devices, and much more. Ultimately, the specific tasks required in SLPA jobs are highly dependent on the level of speech therapy required and the treatment methods implemented by the speech-language pathologist.
In addition, certain speech-language pathology jobs will require you to design and direct programs to evaluate specific speech-language impairments, provide appropriate professional referrals and deliver intervention services for children with articulation, fluency, voice, language, communication, swallowing and related disabilities. These programs could include:
- Assessment
- Early Identification
- Intervention Programs
- Prevention
As a ProCare speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant working in one of our SLP or SLPA jobs, you'll also collaborate with teachers, special educators, interpreters, other school personnel and parents to develop and implement individual or group programs, provide counseling and support classroom activities.
Most importantly, you'll help students find the skills and the courage to participate more fully in and out of class, giving them a greater chance of succeeding in school and in everyday life.
Speech-Language Pathology and SLPA Job Outlook
The SLP job outlook is bright. Increased awareness of speech and language disorders, as well as medical advances, have led for the need of having more speech-language pathologists in schools. The profession is expected to grow by 18% between 2016 and 2026, which is much higher than the average of all other occupations. SLPs who are willing to relocate will have the best job opportunities. For those not wanting to relocate, SLP telepractice jobs may be a good option.
There are students out there waiting for you to make a positive impact on their lives—find your next speech-language pathology job today!