For Those Considering a Career in Communication Sciences and Disorders

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For Those Considering a Career in Communication
Sciences and Disorders

• Shannon Hall-Mills, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
• School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Florida State University
• Shannon.Hall-Mills_at_cci.fsu.edu

http//www.asha.org/students/professions/overview/
slp.htm
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Making effective communication, a human right,
accessible and achievable for all!
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Who are audiologists, speech-language
pathologists, and speech/language/hearing
scientists?

• professionals in the area of human communication
  sciences and disorders who
• evaluate
• treat
• conduct research
• advocate
• work in schools, hospitals, businesses, in
  private practice, universities, research
  laboratories, and government agencies
• work with infants, children, adolescents, adults
  and older generations

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The Clients Perspective

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vDfUKOBlZXdw
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v7Zq3735M_kkfeature
  fvwrel
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vXcWx8UVhzpQfeature
  fvst

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Audiology
http//www.asha.org/students/professions/overview/
audiology.htm

• study of
• typical hearing
• hearing and balance disorders
• habilitation/rehabilitation
• work encompasses
• how hearing mechanism works
• hearing assessment
• treating children and adults with hearing loss
• retraining hearing in children and adults,
  including cochlear implants

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What specifically does an audiologist do?

• identify, assess, and manage disorders of
  auditory, balance, and other neural systems
• select, fit, and dispense amplification systems
• hearing aids
• prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting
  hearing protective devices and education
• involved in auditory and related research
• serve as expert witnesses in litigation

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More Specific Services from Audiologists

• testing and diagnosing hearing and balance
  problems in infants, children, and adults
• educating consumers, professionals, government
  agencies on prevention of hearing loss
• selecting, fitting, dispensing, programming
  hearing aids and assistive devices
• conducting research on environmental influences
  on hearing and cochlear implants
• working with adults or children who need aural
  rehabilitation - training on hearing and/or
  speechreading

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Market Trends and Future Outlook Audiology

• Positions expected to grow 10 from 2006-2016.
• especially for those with the clinical doctorate
  in audiology
• (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008-2009 edition)
• U.S. News and World Report ranks Audiologist as 1
  of 30 Best Careers of 2009.
• http//www.usnews.com/sections/business/best-caree
  rs/

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What does an audiologist earn?

• Salaries depend on educational background,
  experience, work setting, and geographical
  location.
• In 2006, median salary
• for clinical service provider was 65,000
• 70,000 for university faculty
• 85,000 for administrators
• http//www.asha.org/NR/rdonlyres/30693BF3-EE28-407
  4-83BB-A5F8645F786F/200/06AudSurvey_Salaries.pdf
• employee benefits (e.g., insurance, leave, and
  professional development) are very competitive

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Importance of Language

• language - our most human characteristic
• the essence of human life (Light, 1997)
• essential to learning, working, enjoying family
  life and friends
• multiple ways to express and understand language
• speaking, sign language, informal gestures,
  writing, computerized communication

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Who are speech-language pathologists?

• professionals educated to assess and treat speech
  and language
• sometimes called speech therapists
• also assess and treat swallowing disorders and
  literacy problems
• SLPs work with full range of human communication
  and disorders
• across the lifespan (infants to elderly)

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What else do speech-language pathologists do?

• train future professionals in colleges and
  universities
• manage agencies, clinics, or private practices
• engage in research to enhance knowledge about
  human communication
• develop new methods and assess effectiveness of
  treatment approaches
• serve as expert witnesses in court

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An example of SLP competencies the Big 9

• Articulation
• Fluency
• Voice and resonance
• Language
• Hearing
• Swallowing
• Cognitive aspects of communication
• Social aspects of communication
• Alternate communication modalities

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Future Outlook Speech-Language Pathology

• Number of positions in speech-language pathology
  expected to climb 11 between 2006 and 2016.
• (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008-2009)
• Excellent job opportunities in next 8 years
  especially if
• you speak a second language
• are willing to work with aging population and
  at-risk child populations
• are willing to relocate to geographic areas with
  great need

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What does a speech-language pathologist earn?

• Salaries of speech-language pathologists depend
  on educational background, specialty, experience,
  work setting, contract length, and geographical
  location.
• In 2011, median salary was
• Across healthcare settings 65,000-70,000 (12
  months)
• Across schools 58,000 (9-10 months)
• http//www.asha.org

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What is a speech, language, and hearing scientist?

• conduct research on which clinicians base their
  methods of assessment and intervention
• develop evidence-based methods
• explore the biological, physical, and
  physiological processes involved in communication
• collaborate with related professions (engineers,
  physicians, dentists, psychologists)
• train future professionals and scientists

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Academic Preparation Audiology

• graduate degree required AuD or PhD
• undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences
• anatomy and physiology, basic science, math,
  auditory processes, balance, normal and abnormal
  communication development
• auditory assessment and treatment (hearing aids
  and appliances, cochlear implants), aural
  rehabilitation (speech reading, sign), speech
  production
• Certificate of Clinical Competence
• graduate degree
• 375 hours of supervised clinical experience
• 36-week postgraduate clinical fellowship
• written exam

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Academic Preparation Speech-Language Pathologist

• graduate degree required MS or MA (or more)
• undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences
• linguistics, phonetics, anatomy and physiology,
  psychology, human development, speech and hearing
  science, normal and abnormal communication
  development
• speech, language, swallowing disorders -
  assessment and intervention, clinical and
  research experiences
• Certificate of Clinical Competence
• graduate degree
• 375 hours of supervised clinical experience
• 36-week postgraduate clinical fellowship
• written exam

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FSU Program in Communication Sciences and
Disorders

• http//commdisorders.cci.fsu.edu/
• ranked 18th in graduate programs in communication
  disorders by U.S. News and World Report
• Our programs in Speech-Language Pathology
• Bachelor of Science (BS)
• Limited entry (typically junior year)
• Students planning a career in SLP or AUD
• Post-baccelaureate SLP Bridge Program
• 6 graduate prereq courses for people from other
  bachelor degree fields
• Master of Science (MS)
• On-campus program
• Distance-learning program
• Competitive
• PhD

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Curriculum Overview
http//commdisorders.cci.fsu.edu/academic-programs
-admissions/

• Undergraduates
• designed to be completed in 4 semesters
• basic building blocks of speech and language
  (anatomy, phonetics, neurological bases)
• possibility for a minor in CSD
• Masters
• 60 credit program - usually takes 6 semesters,
  including summers - last summer is internship
• program covers all areas needed for certification
• some lateral entry students admitted but may
  take longer
• Doctoral
• can take 4-5 years depending on mentor
• competencies in research, teaching, service, and
  clinical supervision

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SCSD _at_ FSU

• Clinic provides
• Speech-language services (all ages)
• Evaluations
• Therapy
• Audiology services
• Evaluations
• Hearing Aid Fitting
• Cochlear Mapping
• Research
• Across the lifespan
• Future
• Veterans Clinic (TBI)
• Integrated Preschool

FSU Speech Hearing Clinic 201 W. Bloxham Street
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QUESTIONS?