What Life Care Planners Need to Know About the Professional Discipline of Speech-Language Pathology

Abstract

Speech-Language Pathologists’(SLPS) professionalresponsibilities include prevention, assessment, diagnosis,and treatment of communication disorders with individualsranging in age from infancy through geriatrics. Professionalpractice environments include different research, educationand health care settings with varying roles and clientpopulations. Speech language pathologists evaluate and/ortreat individuals with cognitive-communication disorders,social communication disorders, speech sound disorders,receptive/expressive/pragmatic language disorders,swallowing impairments, as well as hearing and voicedisorders. Speech language pathologists providecommunication intervention, working as part of acollaborative, transdisciplinary team in medical andeducational settings, including counseling and education tofamily and caregivers. Many SLPs engage in evidence-basedresearch to provide new assessment and treatment methodsas well as training and educating future SLPs.