How to Be Speech Therapist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 23, 2022 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The lack of effective communication skills can have a significant negative effect on a person's ability to navigate relationships and succeed in the workplace. Speech therapists help individuals to improve their verbal and nonverbal communication skills, which can lead to increased confidence, improved social interactions, and better employment opportunities. Equipping individuals with strategies to manage their communication difficulties can also reduce anxiety, helping to improve their quality of life.

Speech therapy may involve working on articulation, fluency, voice, and language skills, as well as teaching techniques for effective communication. In addition, speech therapists may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems to help those with severe speech impairments. With the help of a speech therapist, individuals can become better communicators and increase their overall success and wellbeing.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. The first step to becoming a speech therapist is to obtain a bachelor's degree. Most states require speech therapists to have at least a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders, linguistics, or a related field.
Complete Clinical Fellowship. After obtaining a bachelor's degree, speech therapists must complete a clinical fellowship. This is usually a year-long program that provides hands-on experience for aspiring speech therapists.
Pass the Praxis Exam. After completing the clinical fellowship, speech therapists must pass the Praxis exam in order to receive their license. The Praxis exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service and evaluates a speech therapist's knowledge and skills in the field.
Obtain State Licensure. After passing the Praxis exam, aspiring speech therapists must obtain a state license. Each state has its own licensing requirements, so it's important to research the requirements for the state where you plan to practice.
Get Certified. Although not required in all states, many employers prefer speech therapists who are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). To become certified, speech therapists must meet certain requirements, including passing the ASHA certification exam.
Pursue Continuing Education. Speech therapists must stay up to date on the latest advances in the field, so it's important to pursue continuing education opportunities. This can include attending conferences, taking classes, or completing online courses.

Reliability and efficiency are two important components to achieving success in any endeavor. When tasks are reliably and efficiently completed, it not only leads to successful outcomes but also creates a sense of accomplishment. To be reliable and efficient, it is important to plan ahead, set goals and review progress regularly.

Having an organized workspace and using the appropriate tools for the job also help to ensure that tasks are completed reliably and efficiently. Finally, taking regular breaks to refresh and refocus can help to increase productivity and reduce errors. When these steps are taken, it is possible to achieve reliable and efficient results, leading to successful outcomes.

You may want to check Speech Tech Support Engineer, Speech Recognition Software Architect, and Speech Analytics Engineer for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and implement treatment plans that are tailored to each patients needs
Utilize a variety of techniques to help patients improve their speech, language, and communication skills
Evaluate patients speech and language abilities, cognitive-communication abilities, and swallowing/feeding skills
Educate and train patients, family members, and caregivers on how to use alternative communication strategies
Monitor patient progress, modify treatment plans accordingly, and document patient progress
Collaborate with other professionals, such as doctors, physical therapists, audiologists, and occupational therapists
Educate patients on proper vocal hygiene, breathing techniques, and vocal exercises
Research and stay up-to-date on current trends in speech therapy
Administer diagnostic tests to assess the patients language, articulation, fluency, voice, and other speech disorders
Provide counseling and support to patients, families, and caregivers

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of assessment, evaluation and treatment techniques for speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.
Ability to identify and diagnose speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.
Ability to develop individualized treatment plans for clients with speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.
Knowledge of and ability to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
Knowledge of various techniques to modify behavior related to speech and language development.
Ability to collaborate with other professionals to develop an interdisciplinary treatment plan.
Ability to provide counseling to clients and families regarding speech and language development.
Ability to effectively document patient progress in medical records.
Knowledge of current trends in the field of Speech Pathology.
Ability to perform research and interpret data related to speech disorders.

Good communication skills are essential for successful speech therapy. Effective communication helps speech therapists build trust and rapport with their clients, understand their needs and concerns, and create effective plans to help them reach their goals. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, misdiagnosis, and ineffective treatment plans.

Furthermore, a lack of understanding of communication techniques can lead to decreased patient engagement and compliance with treatment, resulting in longer recovery times and less successful outcomes. Therefore, it is important for speech therapists to have strong interpersonal skills, active listening, and the ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. they must be able to empathize with their clients and understand their feelings, while also being able to remain impartial and objective.

Speech therapists must also have a good understanding of language and the ability to use it in therapeutic contexts to help patients improve their communication skills. Finally, speech therapists must be comfortable with technology and be able to use it to provide effective telehealth services. All of these skills are essential for successful speech therapy.

Speech Technology Consultant, Speech and Language Specialist, and Speech Pathologist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in working with clients with a variety of speech and language challenges?
How do you handle challenging cases and difficult clients?
How do you approach developing individualized treatment plans for each client?
What strategies do you use to measure a clients progress?
How do you collaborate with other professionals such as teachers and physicians to ensure the best outcomes for clients?
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest research, techniques, and technology related to speech therapy?
What do you find most rewarding about being a Speech Therapist?
How do you ensure that your clients remain engaged and motivated during their treatment?
How do you handle a situation when a client is not making progress?
Describe your ability to effectively manage multiple caseloads.

Common Tools in Industry

Speech Generating Device. A device that uses a computerized voice to produce speech, helping individuals with severe speech impairments to communicate. (e. g. Tobii Dynavox Vmax)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). A form of communication that uses technology to supplement or replace verbal communication. (e. g. Proloquo2Go)
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). A communication system that uses visual images to help an individual with limited verbal communication to communicate. (e. g. Picture Exchange Communication System Book)
Sign Language. A language that uses hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions instead of spoken words to communicate. (e. g. American Sign Language)
Voice Amplification System. A system that uses a microphone and speakers to amplify an individuals voice and increase their auditory feedback. (e. g. AmpliVox Digital Voice Amplifier)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)
National Speech Language Hearing Association (NSHLA)
American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA)
International Speech Communication Association (ISCA)
American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
British Association of Speech and Language Therapists (BASLT)
Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA)
Australian Speech Pathology Association (ASPA)
International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM)

We also have Speech Language Pathology Assistant, Speech and Language Therapist, and Speech Pathology Technician jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Refers to the use of any form of communication (other than oral speech) to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.
Articulation. The act of producing speech sounds correctly and in a consistent manner.
Fluency. The ability to speak in a smooth, effortless, and rhythmic manner without interruption or prolongation of syllable sounds.
Phonology. The study of how sounds are used in different languages and how they are structured and organized.
Pragmatics. The study of how language is used in social contexts.
Prosody. The study of the rhythm, intonation, and stress of spoken language.
Receptive Language. The ability to understand language that has been spoken by others.
Speech Sound Disorders. Disorders of speech production or articulation that may include difficulties with the formation of consonants, vowels, intonation, and the organization of syllables.
Voice Disorders. Disorders that involve changes in the function and/or quality of a person's voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of conditions can a Speech Therapist help with?

Speech Therapists can help with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders, including stuttering, voice disorders, autism spectrum disorder, aphasia, apraxia, and dysphagia.

How long does Speech Therapy typically last?

The length of speech therapy can vary depending on the individual and their needs. In some cases, therapy may last anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

What is the difference between Speech Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology?

Speech Therapy focuses on improving the production of speech sounds, while Speech-Language Pathology focuses on improving communication abilities, including receptive language (comprehension) and expressive language (expression).