History and Development of Speech-Language Pathology
- Speech problems viewed as symptoms of disease in the 18th century
- Jean-Marc Itard theorised that stuttering was caused by nerve problems
- John Thelwall advocated for therapy practices like imitation and education
- Development of SLP into a profession influenced by elocution movement, scientific revolution, and rise of professionalism
- American Academy of Speech Correction founded in 1925, later became American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1978
- Elocutionists opposed the medical model
- SLP profession developed differently in different regions
- Trends influencing SLP evolution in the United States: elocution movement, scientific revolution, rise of professionalism
- Speech correctionist groups formed in the early 1900s
- American Academy of Speech Correction founded in 1925
- Became American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1978
The Profession of Speech-Language Pathology
- SLPs provide services on an individual basis
- Services include assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders
- SLPs work with individuals, families, support groups, and the general public
- Services provided in areas such as developmental language, cognitive aspects of communication, speech, language, and swallowing disorders, voice, and sensory awareness
- SLPs collaborate with paediatricians and psychologists for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and treatment
Multi-discipline Collaboration
- SLPs collaborate with other professionals in multi-disciplinary teams
- Collaboration with paediatricians and psychologists for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and treatment
- Collaboration with medical professionals for evaluation of esophageal function
- Collaboration with caregivers and communication partners for coaching
- Collaboration with professionals in other allied health professions
Working Environments and Education
- SLPs work in various clinical and educational settings
- Employment opportunities in hospitals, private practices, and skilled nursing facilities
- SLPs may work in schools, colleges, and universities
- Some SLPs provide services in community health settings
- Telepractice is becoming more common in speech-language therapy
- SLPs must hold a master's degree in communicative disorders/speech-language pathology
- Programs must be accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Clinical hours and comprehensive exams are required for licensure
- Completion of a clinical fellowship year (CFY) under a licensed mentor clinician
- ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and state licensure are necessary for practice
Services and Applications of Speech-Language Pathology
- Provide information and referrals to audiologists, physicians, dentists, nurses, and other professionals
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address complex cases
- Work with occupational therapists, rehabilitation psychologists, and behavior consultants
- Support patients with cleft lip and palate through speech therapy
- Early language intervention can prevent compensatory error patterns
- Speech–language pathologists work with individuals who have a wide range of issues
- In the US, children can receive speech therapy services through the public school system or private therapy
- Teleconferencing tools like Skype are used for remote therapy sessions
- At-home or combination treatments are available for specific articulation disorders
- Mobile applications are used to bring speech therapy into the home
- In the UK, children are entitled to an assessment by local NHS speech- and language-therapy teams
- Speech therapists play a role in multi-disciplinary teams for children with speech delay or disorder
- The Children's Commissioner for England reported disparities in funding for speech therapy services
- In 2018, 193,971 children in English primary schools needed speech-therapy services
- Parents can request a direct assessment for their children
- Speech therapy is effective for aphasia following stroke
- It is also beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's disease
- Communication and swallowing problems can occur after a stroke
- Speech–language pathologists play a role in brain injury medicine
- Early intervention is effective in improving spoken language outcomes for children with congenital hearing loss
- Helps individuals with speech and language disorders improve their communication skills
- Plays a crucial role in early intervention for children with speech and language delays
- Supports individuals with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, in improving their voice and speech
- Provides therapy for individuals with auditory processing disorders
- Assists transgender individuals in voice and communication therapy
- Assess and diagnose speech and language disorders
- Develop individualised treatment plans for patients
- Provide therapy to improve speech articulation and language skills
- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address communication difficulties in individuals with neurological conditions
- Offer support and therapy for individuals with voice disorders
- Helps children develop age-appropriate speech and language skills
- Addresses speech sound disorders, such as articulation and phonological disorders
- Assists children with language disorders, including expressive and receptive language delays
- Supports children with fluency disorders, such as stuttering
- Provides intervention for children with speech and language difficulties associated with developmental disorders
- Assists adults with acquired communication disorders, such as aphasia due to stroke
- Helps individuals with voice disorders, such as vocal nodules or vocal cord paralysis
- Provides therapy for adults with speech and language difficulties associated with neurological conditions, like traumatic brain injury
- Supports individuals with cognitive-communication disorders, such as difficulties with attention, memory, and problem-solving
- Assists adults with accent modification or foreign accent reduction
- The Council on Academic Accreditation sets standards for graduate education programs in audiology and speech–language pathology
- Speech–language pathologists can pursue a clinical fellowship to gain experience
- The American Speech–Language–Hearing Association provides a professional profile for speech and language therapists
- The profession of speech–language pathology is classified under the code 29-1127.00
- Telepractice is a recognised method for delivering speech therapy services
- FOXP2 gene is associated with speech and language development
- Studies on language representation in the brain provide insights into developmental and acquired language disorders
- Screening for speech
Speech–language pathology (also known as speech and language pathology or logopedics) is a field of healthcare expertise practiced globally. Speech–language pathology (SLP) specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of communication disorders (speech and language impairments), cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, pragmatic disorders, social communication difficulties and swallowing disorder across the lifespan. It is an independent profession considered an allied health profession by professional bodies like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and Speech Pathology Australia. Allied health professions include audiology, optometry, occupational therapy, rehabilitation psychology, physical therapy and others.
| Speech-language pathology | |
|---|---|
 Broca's area (speech production) and Wernicke's area (language comprehension) | |
| MeSH | D013066 |
The field of speech-language pathology is practiced by a clinician known as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or a speech and language therapist (SALT), and sometimes as a speech therapist. An SLP is a university-trained individual who provides professional services in the areas of communication and swallowing. SLPs also play an important role in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder often in collaboration with pediatricians and psychologists.
SLPs specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of communication disorders (speech and language impairments), cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders. SLPs also play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (often in a team with pediatricians and psychologists).
