Profession speech and language therapist

Speech therapists assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use.

Personality Type

• Social / Investigative

Tasks speech and language therapist

• Analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of speech, language, fluency, voice and swallowing impairments, by evaluating test results and medical or background information.
• Develop a plan of care for the client.
• Teach clients how to communicate, e.g. by teaching them how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills.
• Teach clients how to strengthen tongue, jaw, face muscles and breathing mechanisms or how to use compensatory strategies.
• Counsel clients' family members on how to deal with communication disorders (e.g., communication-enhancing techniques, how to recognise and change behavior, etc.).
• Monitor clients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
• Keep records on the initial evaluation, progress and discharge of clients.
• Confer with other professionals, e.g. education, medical, dental and other health professionals.
• Conduct research related to speech and language problems.
• Design and develop techniques or equipment for diagnosing and treating speech problems.

Related professions therapist

• Creative therapist
• Massage therapist
• Masseur, masseuse
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Physiotherapy assistant
• Podiatrist
• Psychologist
• Psychomotor therapist
• Recreational therapist
• Remedial gymnast
• Respiratory therapist
• Slimming consultant
• Therapist or health professional, all other

Knowledge

• Movement techniques

  The various types of movement and physical postures undertaken for relaxation, body-mind integration, stress reduction, flexibility, core support and rehabilitation purposes, and that are required for or underpin occupational performance.

• Audiology

  The science related to the hearing, balance and other related disorders and conditions specific to adults or children.

• Human anatomy

  The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.

• Psychiatry

  Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Lip reading

  The methods used to understand speech by interpreting the movements of the lips, face and tongue for people affected by hearing impairment or to understand people from a distance.

• Paediatrics

  Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Health care legislation

  The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.

• Hearing loss

  The manifestation, causes and symptoms of hearing impairment, which is the partial or total inability to hear.

• Health care occupation-specific ethics

  The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.

• First aid

  The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.

• Behavioural neurology

  The links between neuroscience and behaviour, the care for individuals with behavioural disturbances rooted in neurological issues.

• Neurology

  Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Phoniatrics

  The study of the causes and treatments of various dysfunctions of the vocal cords, larynx (such as cancer of the larynx), mouth or lungs that most often result in speech disorders.

• Medical terminology

  The meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.

• Special needs education

  The teaching methods, equipment and settings used to support students with special needs in achieving succes in school or community.

• Pathology

  The components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.

• Psychology

  The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.

• Professional documentation in health care

  The written standards applied in the health care professional environments for documentation purposes of one`s activity.

• Hygiene in a health care setting

  The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

• Facial gymnastics

  The methods and techniques that help working out the facial muscles.

• Logopaedics

  The theories and methods related to the voice, speech, language and articulation disorders for children and adults, whether congenital or related to accidents or illness.

• Medical informatics

  The processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.

• Phonetics

  The physical properties of speech sounds such as how their are produced, their acoustic properties and neurophysiological status.

• Otorhinolaryngologic conditions

  The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management related to the otorhinolaryngologic conditions.

• Human physiology

  The science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.

• Speech techniques

  The history and the characteristics of breathing, voice and speaking techniques.

• Audiometry

  The way hearing acuity is measured, specifically related to sound intensity and pitch and tonal purity in order to diagnose hearing impairment and related disorders.

• Neuropsychology

  The way in which psychological processes affect the human brain, its structure and functioning mode.

• Linguistics

  The scientific study of language and its three aspects, language form, language meaning, and language in context.

• Sign language

  A system of communication using visual gestures and signs, used by hearing impaired individuals.  

Skills

• Encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring

  Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Communicate effectively in healthcare

  Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

• Exercise patience

  Have patience by dealing with unexpected delays or other waiting periods without becoming annoyed or anxious.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Motivate patiens

  Encourage the patient's motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.

• Apply organisational techniques

  Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

• Evaluate the psychological impact of speech problems

  Evaluate how speech problems affect patients psychologically in their educational, professional or social environment.

• Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

  Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

• Counsel patients on improving speech

  Counsel and instruct clients in techniques to mitigate speech impairment such as sign language or lip-reading.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Promote good habits to avoid communication disorders

  Promote good habits to avoid communication disorders or malformations affecting communication, swallowing or hearing.

• Perform therapy sessions

  Work in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.

• Adhere to organisational guidelines

  Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

• Counsel on communication disorders

  Counsel patients and caregivers on how to cope with communication disorders.

• Diagnose speech disorders

  Assess and diagnose patients` speech and communication disorders, identifying a variety of causes like congenital problems or disorders acquired after a stroke or injury.

• Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship

  Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

• Apply context specific clinical competences

  Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Monitor patients' progress related to treatment

  Observe and report on healthcare users' response to medical treatment, monitoring their progress or decay on a daily basis and modifying the treatment procedures whenever necessary.

• Educate on the prevention of illness

  Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

• Teach communication methods

  Select augmentative or alternative communication methods for patients, such as automated devices and sign language, and instruct patients how to use them. Teach patients with little or no capability for speech how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their language skills, enabling them to communicate more effectively.

• Use e-health and mobile health technologies

  Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

• Conduct research on speech-related topics

  Conduct and direct research on topics related to speech, reporting the results to help in the development of new procedures, technology, or treatments, or the refinement of existing ones.

• Record healthcare users' progress related to treatment

  Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.

• Treat speech disorders

  Provide speech therapy to patients affected by learning disabilities such as dyslexia, stuttering, articulation problems, dyscalculia, swallowing disorders such as dysphagia, brain related conditions such as aphasia or voice conditions such as dysphonia.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Treat swallowing disorders

  Work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Provide health education

  Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

• Formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy

  Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain; considering any possible personal, social, and systemic barriers that might undermine treatment.

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Organise relapse prevention

  Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.

• Manage healthcare users' data

  Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB