Health Careers
Speech Language Pathologist
Professional Activities
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are specialists in communication who evaluate and treat disorders of language, speech, cognition, swallowing, voice and fluency. SLPs work with people who have difficulties with articulation (production of speech sounds), fluency (such as stuttering), voice disorders (such as harsh quality, inappropriate pitch), and developmental language delays. SLPs also work with people who have difficulty understanding or producing spoken language or cognitive impairments (such as organization, memory and problem solving difficulties) that result from diseases, brain injuries or strokes. In addition to communication disorders, SLPs also work with people who have swallowing difficulties.
Speech-language pathologists work with children, as well as adults. The individual and his or her family are involved in the plan of care, and often the team includes physicians, teachers, physical and occupational therapists, nurses, and others. Helping the individual to regain or develop the ability to communicate with others is the goal of speech, language, and cognitive therapy. In the medical setting, SLPs also help patients to improve their ability to swallow safely if choking or inhaling food or liquid which puts the patient at risk.
Speech-language pathologists often work in hospitals, private clinics, schools, infant learning programs, nursing homes, or home health agencies. Alaska requires a license to practice and certification by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association for any private or medical clinician. School-based Speech Language Pathologists must have special services certification through the Department of Education.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school with coursework in science, math, and English.
- Graduation from a four-year college with a Bachelor’s degree.
- Completion of a master’s degree in speech language pathology from an accredited program.
- The State of Alaska requires all Speech Language Pathologists practicing in non-school settings, such as private practices and hospitals, to be licensed. Speech Language Pathologists employed by school districts must hold a Type C Special Services certificate.
Academic Programs
The University of Alaska Anchorage(UAA) has a collaborative program with East Carolina University. For further information on this program, contact:
College of Education, UAA
Department of Counseling and Special Education
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
Contact: Ellen Brigham, MS CCC/SLP
Phone: (907) 786-4468
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://coe.uaa.alaska.edu/programs/counseling/lang.cfm
Contacts
State Contact:
The Alaska Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Molly Thompson, President
Phone: (907) 562-3994
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://aksha.org/
Licensing:
For State of Alaska licensing information, contact:
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Occupational Licensing
Regulation of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Phone: (907) 465-2534
Fax: (907) 465-2974
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/paud.htm
National Contact:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
Toll free: (800) 638-8255
Fax: (301) 296-8580
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.asha.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on October 05, 2009
