In 2019, we are highlighting certain occupations as part of our Social Media Education Platform. We are doing this to help grade 11, 12 and college students ,so they can think ahead and do research on what they are really want to do.
So far we have interviewed a Bike Shop Manager, Correctional Officer, a Social Worker, 911 Operators, Police Officers, Nurses, Teachers, Educational Support Staff, Radiation Therapists, a Lifeguard, a Firefighter, a Musical Professional, Paramedics, Engineers, a Medical Laboratory Professional, a career in Acting, working for Non-profits, Dental Hygienists, and a Marketing professional. We discussed the reality of their day to day work and asked them for advice on succeeding in the field.
Here is our interview with Maureen Pappas.
1. What is Speech Therapy?
Speech Therapy is a field of expertise practiced by Speech-Language Pathologists. It is considered a health profession. Speech-Language Pathologists or Speech Therapists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders in people of all ages.
2. What does a Speech-Language Pathologist do?
Speech-Language Pathologists are skilled professionals with specialized knowledge and skills related to the assessment and management of communication disorders. They hold a Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. A speech-language pathologists’ expertise includes the prevention, identification, evaluation and treatment of communication disorders.
3. What areas can a speech-language pathologist treat?
Services can be provided to people of all ages in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, nursing homes and private practice. The following is a broad list of services offered by Speech Pathologists:
- Assessment and treatment of congenital or acquired speech and language disorders in preschool and school aged children
- Assessment and treatment of swallowing, voice and fluency disorders
- Assessment and treatment of cognitive communication disorders to improve reasoning, memory and problem solving
- Assessment and treatment of social language disorders such as Autism
- Accent modification for people who would like to improve their English pronunciation
4. How can a speech pathologist help children?
The ability to communicate is essential. Speech and language disorders can affect academic, work and social skills. A speech pathologist can help children articulate sounds more clearly, learn new vocabulary and formulate sentences, understand questions and directions, improve social communication skills and help parents teach their children to be better communicators.
5. What is your favourite part about being a Speech Pathologist?
The field of Speech Pathology is very dynamic and interesting! It offers you the chance to work in a variety of settings with a very diverse client base. You get to put in to practice your problem solving skills and you are always learning as the field grows. I love the fact that I meet new people and help them make progress and achieve their communication goals. I feel speech therapy can make a huge impact on people’s lives in terms of improved communication and confidence!
Thank You Maureen for sharing your knowledge with us.