How to Be Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

May 21, 2020 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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When children experience speech and language difficulties, it can have a lasting impact on their academic success and social development. Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are essential in helping these children overcome speech and language delays. SLPs evaluate a child's speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills, develop a treatment plan, and provide therapy to improve communication.

Early intervention is key in helping children reach their communication goals, as the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. With the help of a pediatric SLP, children can learn to express themselves effectively, understand instructions, increase their vocabularies, and develop social communication skills. Not only does this lead to improved academic performance, but it also enhances self-confidence and social relationships.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. The first step to becoming a pediatric speech-language pathologist is to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders, or a related field, is the minimum requirement for most entry-level positions.
Get Clinical Experience. During your undergraduate studies, you should also seek out clinical experience. Many universities offer clinical internships and other opportunities to gain experience working with children in various settings.
Complete a Master's Degree. After earning a bachelor's degree, the next step is to complete a master's degree in speech-language pathology. A master's degree program typically lasts two to three years, although some programs may be longer.
Obtain Licensure. Once you have earned your master's degree, you must obtain licensure to practice as a speech-language pathologist. Each state has its own licensing requirements, so it is important to research the requirements in your state before applying for licensure.
Pursue Specialization. To become a pediatric speech-language pathologist, you must pursue additional training and specialization after obtaining licensure. You can pursue a specialization in pediatric speech-language pathology by completing an advanced clinical fellowship or taking additional coursework.

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists are highly skilled and competent professionals who have an important role in helping children communicate effectively. To become a successful pediatric speech-language pathologist, one must possess a wide range of skills, such as an ability to assess and diagnose speech and language disorders, design individualized treatment plans, and use evidence-based practices to help children reach their communication goals. they must also have strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of current research, and experience working with a variety of populations.

The combination of these skills enables them to work with children in a variety of settings to provide effective treatment. As a result of their expertise, pediatric speech-language pathologists are able to help children improve their communication skills and reach their potential.

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Job Description

Develop individualized treatment plans tailored to the needs of each pediatric client.
Evaluate speech and language development and identify potential areas of difficulty.
Assess and diagnose speech and language disorders, including articulation, fluency, voice, and language delays.
Provide individual and/or group therapy sessions to address communication delays and disorders.
Implement appropriate strategies and techniques to help clients reach communication goals.
Utilize evidence-based practices and research findings to guide treatment decisions.
Collaborate with parents, teachers, and other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
Monitor progress and document results in order to evaluate progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.
Participate in staff meetings, in-service training, and case reviews.
Provide education and support to families, caregivers, and other professionals to promote positive communication development.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of normal and atypical speech, language, and communication development.
Knowledge of pediatric speech, language, and communication disorders.
Ability to evaluate and diagnose pediatric speech, language, and communication disorders.
Knowledge of assistive technology and augmentative communication.
Ability to develop and implement evidence-based treatment plans.
Ability to provide direct therapy to individuals and groups of children.
Ability to collaborate effectively with other professionals and families.
Ability to track progress and modify treatment plans accordingly.
Knowledge of evidenced-based research and its application to clinical practice.
Ability to effectively document clinical services.

Having a strong set of communication skills is essential for any pediatric speech-language pathologist. The ability to listen attentively and accurately interpret what a child is trying to communicate is vitally important for making a positive difference in a childs life. having a good sense of empathy and understanding of the childs emotional needs is critical for providing the support they need.

Being able to effectively communicate with the childs parents and other healthcare professionals is also key to ensure the child receives the best possible care. having the skills to assess a childs language development, implement evidence-based strategies, and monitor progress over time are essential for providing successful interventions. Finally, having excellent organizational and problem-solving skills is necessary for being an effective pediatrics speech-language pathologist.

Having these skills together will enable a pathologist to successfully and compassionately work with children and their families to optimize language skills.

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Frequent Interview Questions

How do you approach assessing and treating children with speech and language disorders?
Describe your experience with designing and implementing individualized treatment plans.
What tools and techniques do you use to evaluate a child's speech and language skills?
How do you collaborate with other professionals (e. g. school staff, pediatricians, etc. ) to provide comprehensive care for your patients?
What strategies do you use to engage children in their therapy sessions?
How do you ensure that the goals of therapy are being met?
Describe a recent case you worked on involving a child with a speech or language disorder.
How do you help parents understand their child's condition and treatment plan?
What strategies do you use to track progress and measure outcomes?
How do you stay up to date on the most effective treatments for speech and language disorders?

Common Tools in Industry

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). A system of communication that uses pictures to help children with limited verbal communication skills. (Eg: A child with autism can use PECS to request a desired item such as a toy by pointing to a picture of the item. )
Picture boards. Boards with pictures representing words, phrases, and sentences used to help a child communicate without speaking. (Eg: A child can point to a picture of a sentence such as I want a snack on the picture board to communicate their request. )
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Specialized devices that allow a child with limited verbal abilities to communicate through the use of technology. (Eg: A child can use an AAC device to press buttons or move a joystick to select pre-programmed words or phrases that are then spoken aloud by the device. )
Social Stories. Short stories that describe situations in detail to help children with autism better understand social interactions. (Eg: A speech-language pathologist can create a social story to help a child understand how to respond in certain social situations, such as how to ask for help in a store. )
Language sampling. A method of language assessment that involves collecting samples of a child's language to assess their communication and language skills. (Eg: A speech-language pathologist can use language sampling to observe and record a child's verbalizations, gestures, and vocalizations in order to better understand their communication abilities. )

Professional Organizations to Know

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
National Association for Child Development (NACD)
Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)
International Association for Communication Disorders (IACD)
International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHF)
International Association of Infant and Child Communicators (IAICC)

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Common Important Terms

Speech-Language Pathology. Also known as speech therapy, this is a field of healthcare that studies and treats communication and swallowing disorders.
Dysphagia. Refers to difficulty in swallowing and is a common disorder seen in speech-language pathology.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Refers to any form of communication that supplements or replaces speech.
Fluency Disorders. A disorder affecting the rhythm and flow of speech that can include stuttering.
Apraxia. A motor speech disorder characterized by difficulty in sequencing the sounds and syllables of words.
Articulation Disorder. Refers to difficulty producing certain sounds, resulting in speech that is hard to understand.
Pragmatics. The social use of language, including the ability to follow rules of conversation, use appropriate language in different contexts, and interpret nonverbal cues.
Voice Disorders. Refers to any disorder that affects the quality of an individuals voice, such as pitch, volume, or vocal break.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist?

A Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist is a healthcare professional who works with children who have communication and/or swallowing disorders. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and provide intervention and treatment for speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing difficulties.

What type of degree is required to become a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist?

To become a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, one must have at least a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited university.

What age range do Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists typically work with?

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists typically work with children from birth to age 18.

What are some common disorders treated by Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists?

Common disorders treated by Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists include articulation disorders, language disorders, stuttering, autism spectrum disorder, apraxia, dysphagia, and hearing impairments.