Speech-language pathologists are in high demand. They help people with communication, speaking, and swallowing issues.
A speech-language pathologist is a critical health worker who plays a huge part in an individual’s development. They are tasked with assisting people with their speech, how they communicate, and even how they swallow food. Due to demographic shifts and increasingly complex communication needs, unprecedented demand has arisen for them in the United States.
The Role of a Speech Language Pathologist
The title seems to suggest that the job of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is self-explanatory. Yet it is extremely complex, branching out across cases and demographics. Practitioners could be teaching a child in school, helping them to develop their speaking skills, or helping an elderly person who is recovering from a stroke to swallow food.
Speech disorders are a common case for SLPs. Around 17.9 million people in the United States, equating to 7.6% of the population, report having issues with their voice and speech over the last 12 months. These statistics only show those 18 and above and do not include minors. Solving issues like articulation, stuttering, fluency, and resonance are the SLPs’ most commonly encountered cases.
This also moves to language disorders, helping people who struggle to understand social cues, express feelings and thoughts in words, either in speech or writing. A high level of cognitive communication and building executive functions comes with this. It can include memory, problem-solving, or attention issues. An SLP will also be responsible for helping to provide and use alternative methods, such as teaching sign language, using speech devices, and picture boards.
Lastly, they help with any feeding or swallowing issues. This is known as dysphagia. It could involve helping children or infants, or older patients who are struggling to swallow foods and liquids.
Becoming an SLP in the United States
The path to becoming an SLP is not an easy one, and rightly so, which may explain why they are so in demand. To enrol in an Online Speech Language Pathologist Masters Degree, you must already have a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders, a related field, or another field plus completion of prerequisite levelling coursework from an accredited university. This can vary depending on the institute you are applying to.
Applicants must also have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The GPA in either the CSD major or the CSD-leveling coursework must also reach this level.
From here, those wanting to get on a course must complete the application process, which may vary depending on the institute.
Generally, it will involve submitting an application, followed by two academic references, one professional reference, a personal statement, and transcripts. Once the course is completed, the person should be ready for national certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-SLP) and New York State licensure.
Why are SLPs in Such Demand?
A study published on Epic Research titled ‘Childhood Speech Development Delays Increasing Since the Start of the Pandemic’ from 2023 found that children who turned two at the start of the pandemic were more likely to have a speech delay diagnosis. The average rose from 9.0% of children in 2018 to 11.8% in the last quarter of 2021 and 16.9% in the first quarter of 2023. By no means have these issues been resolved, and they explain the demand.
Developmental screening has also become more popular. This has been a shift to bringing intervention before children reach school age, so they are primed to get the best from education. For this reason, one of the main places SLPs work is in education. Around 56% of certified SLPs work in education and public school systems. They are essential in reducing communication delays, which can hinder learning and literacy levels.
After this, many people work in the healthcare sector, another place where high demand exists. The US population is aging, and over the next 40 years the number of Americans 65 years and older will double. This places a huge strain on healthcare. SLPs may find themselves working in hospitals and related rehabilitation centres or nursing facilities. Stroke-related speech therapies, neurological and cognitive experts in these situations have increased.
The Future of Speech and Language Pathology
Like any career, there are issues. Not only is there a high barrier to entry, but with the demand comes a high workload. This can increase in places where public funds are thin, stretching those in certain deprived areas. Social and economic gaps exist across the United States in healthcare and the field.
Being an SLP would make you a vital part of the US education and healthcare system. On a personal level, the sector boasts strong job growth, prospects, and pay. Experts get high levels of job satisfaction, helping people with the vital task of communication. This is a fundamental right, in which one single voice can change the world, and you will facilitate that.
