Speech Pathologist

Duties and Responsibilities: They assess diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients. They communicate with patients to evaluate their levels of speech or language difficulty, determine the extent of communication problems by having the patient complete basic reading tests, identify treatment options, and create and carry out a treatment plan for every individual patient. When a speech pathologist treats its patients they usually teach them how to make sounds, improve their voices, alternative communication methods like sign language, improve their ability to read and write correctly. They may also work with them to develop and strengthen the muscles to swallow and counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication disorders.

Salary: $69,870

Education: To become a speech pathologist you must have at least a master’s degree. It is also required of you to be licensed in almost all states. To become licensed you must have a master’s degree and supervised clinical experience.

Reflection: I don’t think I would like to be a speech pathologists because I don’t see myself doing it in the future.