What does a Speech Language Pathologist do?

A speech language pathologist works with patients with communication or swallowing disorders, creating a treatment plan to help them communicate better or improve their swallowing ability. They develop individualized strategies for patients, giving them tools and techniques that can help their disorder. Most speech language pathologists work in hospitals, health clinics or rehabilitation facilities, working one-on-one with those who need their help. They may also do home visits for clients that are disabled or unable to go to a clinic or hospital.

Speech Language Pathologist skills and qualifications

A successful speech language pathologist will have the following skills and qualifications:

• Technical knowledge of different speech and swallowing disorders and how to treat them.
• Technical knowledge of specialized equipment for testing and treating speech and swallowing disorders.
• Ability to create a patient-centred treatment plan that would fit into the patient’s life and help improve their symptoms.
• Ability to work with a diverse team of medical professionals.
• Advanced communication skills, with the ability to explain speech and swallowing disorders to patients and their families.

Speech Language Pathologist experience requirements

A successful candidate for a speech language pathologist position should have experience working with patients who have speech or swallowing disorders. They should know how to test, diagnose and treat various speech or swallowing disorders. A speech language pathologist must also have experience explaining various speech and swallowing disorders to patients and their families. Having experience working as a part of an interdisciplinary medical team in a hospital or clinical setting is also an asset.

Speech Language Pathologist education and training requirements

A speech language pathologist works directly with patients and their families on complex communication and swallowing disorders. They must have a master’s degree in speech language pathology. Registration with a regulatory board is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Membership in the National Association of Speech Language Pathologists is also required.

Speech Language Pathologist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a speech language pathologist is $47.99 per hour. Salaries for speech language pathologists can depend on experience, location and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a speech language pathologist is not quite what you are looking for, check out these similar positions that can be found here.

• Special Education Teacher
• Audiologist

Speech Language Pathologist Job Description FAQs

What qualities make a good Speech Language Pathologist?

A good speech language pathologist should be very personable and able to explain different speech or swallowing pathology to their patients. They should have the knowledge needed to properly treat different issues and the ability to work within a diverse medical team.

What are the day-to-day duties of a speech language pathologist?

Speech language pathologists spend their days working with patients, helping them with their speech or swallowing disorders. They spend much of their time developing treatment plans for each patient, ensuring that the interdisciplinary team of medical professionals is working together.

What should you look for in a speech language pathologist’s resume?

When looking at a speech language pathologist’s resume, you want to make sure they have to correct education and registration for your location. You must also ensure they have the right experience working with the type of patients they will be seeing.

What makes a good speech language pathologist job description?

A good speech language pathologist job description should describe the type of patients that they will see in the health clinic. This is important as the candidates need to know what type of work they will be expected to perform. People applying for the job will need experience in the same type of disorders seen in the clinic, so an explanation of the general patient population would help in attracting the right applicants with sufficient experience.