Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Provide augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with severe expressive and/or language comprehension disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder or progressive neurological disorders.
• Work with people who don't have speech, language, or swallowing disorders, but want to learn how to communicate more effectively (e.g., work on accent modification or other forms of communication enhancement).
• SLPs work with the full range of human communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages.
• Evaluate and diagnose speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
• Treat speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
• Provide training and education to family/caregivers and other professionals.
• Work collaboratively with professionals from many other disciplines.

Additionally, SLPs may:

• Prepare future professionals in colleges and universities.
• Own or run clinics or private practices.
• Work for national, state, or local associations or agencies.
• Supervise and direct public school or clinical programs.
• Engage in research to enhance knowledge about human communication processes and develop new assessment and
• treatment methods that may lead to more effective outcomes.
• Provide counseling and consultative services.
• Train and supervise support personnel.

Employment Settings

SLPs work in many different research, education, and health care settings with varying roles, levels of responsibility, and client populations. Because of the high demand for speech-language pathology services, part-time and full-time available depending on location, desired facility, employment flexibility, and other factors.

In many settings, SLPs often work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, which may include teachers, physicians, audiologists, psychologists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and rehabilitation counselors.

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