what's a speech therapist

Subscribe to Get the Latest News!

August 12, 2022

What is Speech Therapy?

Many individuals will have experience with speech therapy at some point in their life. But what is speech therapy, exactly? Speech therapy is a specialized treatment performed by a speech-language pathologist that helps individuals of all ages improve their speech and communication.

Speech therapy prevents, assesses, and treats communication problems, delays, and disorders. It is performed by a communication specialist called a speech-language pathologist (also referred to as a speech pathologist, speech therapist, or SLP).

Speech therapy aims to improve an individual’s speech and/or language skills and treat developmental delays, swallowing disorders, fluency disorders, voice and resonance disorders, and more.

Who Needs Speech Therapy?

Speech therapists help a wide variety of clients from birth to old age. Individuals who might benefit from speech therapy include the following.

• Infants. Speech therapy helps infants and babies with feeding, speech development, and early communication skills.
• Toddlers and Preschoolers. Toddlers and preschoolers receive speech therapy to treat speech delays and disorders and enhance language development (identifying body parts, following simple directions, etc.).
• Children and Adolescents. Speech therapy can help children with a variety of disorders, including speech sound disorders, language delays, stuttering, voice disorders, auditory processing, verbal expression, and much more.
• Adults. Adults can be treated in therapy for the same delays and disorders as those seen in adolescents, as well as for aphasia, dysarthria, memory, cognition, accent reduction, swallowing, and gender-affirming voice therapy.
• Elderly. Speech therapy can be very beneficial for seniors. Therapy may work on improving functional communication skills, safe swallowing techniques, and memory and problem-solving skills.

What Does Speech Therapy Do?

A speech-language pathologist treats a wide range of communication delays and disorders. They provide therapy in the areas of articulation, language, fluency, resonance, cognition, voice, swallowing, dysarthria, auditory rehab, and more.

1. Articulation

A speech sound disorder (also known as an articulation disorder) is the inability to correctly produce speech sounds (called phonemes). These disorders are most common in children and may include an omission, substitution, distortion, or addition of sounds when speaking, often making the child difficult to understand.

• Omissions. Leaving out a sound in a word. (Example: Saying “unny” for “bunny” or “ar” for “car.”) .
• Substitutions. When a sound is said in place of another. (Example: A child has a “lisp” and says “thun” for “sun” or when a child substitutes a W for an R and says “wabbit” for “rabbit.”)
• Distortions. A non-typical sound is said in place of the correct sound in a word. (Example: A child has a lateral lisp where the air escapes out the side of the teeth when saying the “S” sound, making it sound “slushy” and hard to understand.)
• Additions. A sound is added to a word, like extra vowels or an extra consonant. (Example: Saying “puhlay” for “play.”)

2. Language

A language disorder is when a person has difficulty understanding written or spoken language or expressing their wants and needs to others. People with a language disorder may have an expressive language disorder, receptive language disorder, or both.

• Expressive Language. Individuals with an expressive language disorder have difficulty communicating their wants and needs to others through speech, writing, or gestures. Individuals with an expressive language disorder may not produce grammatically correct sentences, have a limited vocabulary, and may speak in short phrases instead of full sentences.
• Receptive Language. A receptive language disorder causes difficulty understanding or processing language. Individuals with a receptive language disorder may have difficulty following directions, and answering questions.

Fluency disorders interrupt the normal rate, rhythm, and speed of speech. Rather than speaking in a smooth, consistent rate of speech, individuals with a fluency disorder will have repetitions, prolongations, and blocks when they speak. They may also experience tension when they speak and have secondary behaviors (like eye blinking or nodding their head) when communicating.

Fluency disorders are divided into two categories: stuttering and cluttering.

• Stuttering. Stuttering is the most common type of disfluency. It is characterized by repetitions of sounds, syllables, words, and phrases, blocks in the flow of speech, and sound prolongations.
• Cluttering. Unlike stuttering, cluttering is a fluency disorder where the individual talks at a fast rate and often combines words or phrases together, making the speech difficult to understand. Cluttered speech is often filled with abnormal pauses, deletion of syllables, abrupt topic changes, and omission of word endings.

4. Resonance

Resonance disorders occur when there is too much or too little sound energy through the nasal and/or oral cavities. This is often caused by neurological disorders, cleft palate, and other structural conditions like enlarged tonsils. Resonance disorders can be broken down into the following four categories.

• Hypernasality . Hypernasality occurs when there is too much sound energy in the nasal cavity (nose) when speaking. A person with hypernasality may sound like they are talking through their nose.
• Hyponasality. Hyponasalaity occurs when there is not enough sound energy resonating in the nasal cavity (nose) when speaking. A person with hyponasality will sound like they are speaking with a severely stuffed nose.
• Cul-de-sac resonance. A person with cul-de-sac resonance has speech that resonates in their throat, nose, or mouth but it is unable to escape due to an obstruction. They may sound like they are mumbling when speaking or like the sound is muffled in their throat or nose.
• Mixed resonance. This type of resonance disorder occurs when one or more of the previous types of disorders are present at the same time during speech.

Voice therapy is used to improve the quality of a person’s voice and provide treatment for conditions such as vocal fold nodules, polyps, or cysts. It can also be used to improve the speech of someone with spasmodic dysphonia, tremor, and vocal fold paralysis.

Voice therapy aims to improve phonation quality, pitch, and loudness, and helps decrease harmful vocal behavior.

6. Cognition

Speech therapy can assist individuals with acquired cognition deficits. These often occur following a stroke, brain damage, tumor, or neurological damage. Damage to the brain can greatly affect a person’s ability to communicate, and speech therapy provides help in the following areas.

• Problem solving.
• Executive functioning.

7. Feeding and Swallowing

Speech therapists are swallowing specialists and provide therapy for a number of feeding and swallowing conditions and disorders. They work with infants, children, adults, and the elderly to ensure the safe transition of food through all four stages of swallowing.

9. Auditory Habilitation/Rehabilitation

Auditory habilitation/rehabilitation helps individuals with hearing loss improve their ability to communicate with others. It can also assist children and adolescents with dyslexia, autism, and other auditory processing disorders and deficits.

A speech therapist works with a team of specialists to improve speech, language, and hearing skills through a variety of devices and materials.

10. Other Services

In addition to these areas of expertise, speech therapy can also provide elective services including, but not limited to the following.

• Accent modification. Whether a person wants to decrease the severity of their accent or master an accent for acting or other purposes, speech therapy can help train a client on the characteristics of specific accents and dialects.
• Gender-affirming therapy. Speech therapy can help an individual train their voice and nonverbal communication to best match their authentic self.
• Professional communication skills. Speech therapists are experts in communication, and they can help improve public speaking skills and help manage anxiety when speaking to large groups.

Where Does Speech Therapy Take Place?

Speech therapy can be done in many locations based on a client’s needs.

• Private and public schools.
• Private practice.
• Skilled nursing facilities.
• Inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
• Long-term care facilities.
• Telepractice.

Speech therapy can also be provided within a client’s home for infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services or for the elderly with limited mobility.

How Long Does Speech Therapy Take?

There is no set time limit for speech therapy as therapy duration will be different for each person. While some children in therapy working on fixing their lisp (correctly saying the S sound) will take 1-2 years, other children with a severe form of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) will need therapy for many, many years.

Prognosis and how long someone will be receiving speech therapy services is dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to:

• Patient age.
• Type of disorder.
• Severity of the disorder.
• Frequency and duration of speech therapy.
• Family support and assistance with at-home therapy “homework.”
• Prognosis of any medical conditions contributing to the speech or language disorder.

Does Speech Therapy Work?

Speech therapy is proven to be very successful at improving speech and communication in a variety of individuals.

Keep in mind that the progress and success of speech therapy vary from person to person. The more consistent the therapy, the higher likelihood of success.

In addition to consistency, the earlier therapy is started (especially in children with delays), the better the prognosis.

Please reach out to a speech therapist if you are concerned about your or your loved one’s speech or communication. You can also email general questions to [email protected].

Share This Article

To the newsletter, the newsletter.

Subscribe to The Speech Guide newsletter and never miss a new post, handy resource, or freebie.

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

One Comment

It made sense to me when you pointed out that there will be a higher likelihood of success when speech therapy is done consistently. My four-year-old son seems to have speech problems because he cannot say words clearly, and he stutters a lot. I do not want his speech problems to become a bigger problem when he starts studying, so I will find a reliable speech pathologist who can help him in the best possible way.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Posts

Place Manner Voice Chart

How to Become a Speech Pathologist

What is a Speech Pathologist, and What Do They Do?

© Copyright 2022

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Diet & Nutrition
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Types of Speech Therapy

Different speech therapy approaches and techniques are used for various issues

• List of Types
• For Late Talkers
• For Apraxia
• For Stuttering
• For Aphasia
• For Swallowing

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech therapy is not one thing. There are different types of speech therapy, each of which involves approaches and techniques that are specific to the issue that needs addressing. That could be related to speech itself—e.g., therapy for people who stutter—or it could relate to problems with memory swallowing, and more.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP), often just called a speech therapist, will perform assessments to determine which type(s) of speech therapy is right for you.

This article reviews the different types of speech therapy and the various disorders each one can be used to treat.

Types of Speech Therapy Used by Speech Therapists

A speech-language pathologist can use different types of speech therapy to help people with problems related to:

• Fluency (e.g., stuttering, and cluttering)
• Speech (e.g., articulation)
• Language (e.g., ability; comprehension of spoken and written language)
• Cognition (e.g., attention, memory, ability to solve problems)
• Voice (e.g., characteristics of vocal tone)
• Swallowing (e.g., stroke, congenital disorders)

In addition to different speech therapy techniques, SLPs may also provide auditory habilitation & auditory rehabilitation for people with hearing problems or disorders.

Some SLPs specialize in other services including professional voice development, accent or dialect modification, transgender voice therapy , business communication modification, and voice hygiene.

Speech Therapy for Late Talkers

A common speech therapy method is used to help children who have reached the expected age for speech development but have not started talking .

If your infant or toddler should be talking by now but isn't, they may be referred to a speech therapist. The therapist will likely try different things to encourage your child to talk, including playing with him. Sometimes, withholding a favorite toy until a child asks for it motivates small children to talk, but this depends on the circumstance.

For some children, other types of communication, such as sign language or picture cards, might be introduced. Speech therapists may also refer your child for further evaluation, such as hearing tests if necessary.

Speech Therapy for Kids With Apraxia

Certain speech therapy techniques are helpful for kids with apraxia.

Children with apraxia of speech have difficulty saying certain syllables or making certain sounds. Your child knows what they want to say, but it doesn't seem to come out right. Speech therapists are qualified to evaluate children for apraxia by using several tests, including:

• Oral-motor assessment to check for muscle weakness in the jaw, lips, or tongue
• Melody of speech assessment during which the therapist listens to see if they can appropriately stress certain syllables and use pitch and pauses at the appropriate place in a sentence
• Speech sound assessment further determines how well the child can pronounce sounds, including vowels, consonants, and sound combinations. This includes determining how well others are able to understand the child's conversational speech

If your child is diagnosed with apraxia , they will probably need speech therapy on a one-on-one basis several times per week. This therapy will likely consist of intensively practicing their speech. The therapist will try to help your child understand auditory feedback as well as visual or tactile cues.

One way a therapist might do this is to have your child look at themselves in a mirror while speaking, or record them speaking and then playing it back. Many children enjoy this.

Since successful treatment for apraxia involves a lot of time and commitment, your therapist may give you assignments to practice with your child at home.

Speech Therapy for Stuttering

Speech therapy techniques can be applied to help treat stuttering.

Stuttering is a problem that typically develops during childhood but can develop during adulthood as well. Stuttering is usually considered a type of behavioral problem. Speech therapists will try to teach your child who stutters behavioral modification techniques that in turn may help control their stuttering.

A common method that may be used on your child is to teach them to control the rate of speech since speaking too quickly can make stuttering worse for some people. Practicing speech in a slower, more fluent manner can be helpful. It can also be helpful to monitor breathing.

Even after treatment, people who stutter may require follow-up sessions with their speech therapist to keep the problem from recurring.

Speech Therapy for Aphasia

Some speech therapy methods help people with aphasia . Speech therapy assessments can also help determine if someone has the condition.

Aphasia is a condition that causes difficulty speaking as a result of some sort of damage to the brain. The condition can also consist of difficulty listening, reading, and writing. Aphasia happens to many adults after they have experienced a stroke .

Speech therapists play a crucial role in diagnosing aphasia by evaluating an individual's ability to understand others, express themselves, and even swallow. There are many different things a speech therapist might do to help a person with aphasia, including:

• Drills to improve specific language skills
• Group therapy to improve conversational skills
• Gestures and writing to augment their communication skills

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Difficulty

Speech therapy techniques can also be used to help people who are not able to swallow when they eat or drink.

Your child may experience difficulty swallowing for a variety of reasons. A speech therapist may help your child with swallowing difficulty by assisting them with exercises to make her mouth strong, increase tongue movement, and improve chewing.

A speech therapist may also make recommendations about the consistency of food. For infants, a speech therapist may assist in coordinating her suck-swallow-breath pattern. As previously mentioned these are only some of the things that a speech therapist might do. There are many other conditions and methods used to evaluate those in need.

There are different types of speech therapy that can be used to treat various disorders affecting speech, hearing, and swallowing. Children and adults with speech delays, apraxia, swallowing problems, and certain medical conditions may benefit from working with a speech therapist.

A speech therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats speech issues and communication problems, as well as swallowing disorders. They provide various services, from teaching articulation and clear speaking to helping strengthen muscles used to talk and swallow.

The four types of articulation disorders are substitution, omission, distortion, and addition. Speech-language pathologists use the acronym SODA to remember them.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Treatment . Asha.org.

Chang S, Synnestvedt A, Ostuni J, Ludlow C. Similarities in speech and white matter characteristics in idiopathic developmental stuttering and adult-onset stuttering .  J Neurolinguistics . 2010;23(5):455-469. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.11.004

Stuttering . Asha.org.

American Psychological Association. APA Dictionary of Psychology - Definition of Articulation Disorder .

Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website.

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) in Children . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website.

By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children.

• Search the site GO Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Health Conditions A-Z
• Neurological Disorders

What Is Speech Therapy?

FatCamera / Getty Images

Speech therapy is a form of healthcare that helps improve communication and speech. It can also help improve swallowing function and other behaviors related to feeding.

About one in 12 children in the United States has a speech or swallowing disorder. Disorders are most common in young children, but many adults have a related condition. For example, about one million adults in the United States have aphasia (difficulty expressing or comprehending written and verbal language).

Speech therapists (STs) or speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess and treat people of all ages. They use various techniques to help people with challenges related to speech production, language comprehension, hearing, voice quality, fluency, and swallowing. 

What Does Speech Therapy Treat?

Speech therapy treats various disorders involving hearing, speech, language, literacy, social communication, voice quality, executive functioning (for example, memory and problem-solving), feeding, and swallowing.

Specific speech disorders include:

• Articulation disorders: Difficulty pronouncing words or sounds such as the “s” sound (for example, saying “thun” rather than “sun”). This can occur during childhood language development or with structural problems like tongue-tie. A tongue tie is when a small band of skin connects the tip of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. It is congenital, meaning it's present at birth.
• Dysarthria: Slow, slurred, or unclear speech. This occurs with oral (mouth) muscle control decline due to neurological conditions (related to the brain or nervous system), such as multiple sclerosis (MS) —a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks myelin, the covering wrapped around nerve cells.
• Apraxia: Knowing what you want to say but having difficulty producing the correct sounds or words. Apraxia can cause slow, error-prone speech or the need to intentionally move your tongue and lips in order to produce sounds and words. Apraxia can be present at birth, but it can also occur as a result of brain injuries, brain tumors , or a stroke .
• Fluency disorders: Speech flow disruptions like stuttering. Stuttering is experiencing interruptions in speech and repeating sounds, syllables, or words. Researchers are still exploring possible causes of dysfluency, but they seem to include genetics, developmental components, neurological factors (how the brain processes), and brain injury. Many children outgrow fluency disorders, but they can persist into adulthood.
• Voice disorders: Vocal cord spasming (choppy voice), hoarseness, pitch problems, or voice fatigue are examples of voice disorders. This can result from infection, overusing the vocal cords, or neurological disorders. 

Language or communication disorders include:

• Aphasia : Aphasia is a language disorder in which you have difficulty expressing or comprehending written and verbal language. Receptive aphasia is difficulty understanding written or verbal words. Expressive aphasia is difficulty communicating thoughts and ideas with language components like vocabulary, grammar, and sentence formation. Aphasia can occur with childhood development, language impairment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brain injury, or neurological disorders.
• Pragmatic language disorder: This relates to social communication. Signs include misunderstanding social cues like eye contact, body language, and personal space. It can occur during childhood development or with underlying neurodivergence (brain variation), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) , a brain development condition that affects how a person perceives and socializes with other people.
• Accent or tone: While this is not a disorder, speech therapists can also work with people who wish to modify their accent or an unusual speech rhythm, pitch, or tone. For example, a high-pitched, sing-song, or robotic tone can occur with ASD.
• Executive functioning: Executive functioning challenges include difficulty with memory, planning, organization, problem-solving, and attention. This can occur due to brain injuries or conditions like ASD and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) , a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention (being distracted), hyperactivity (feeling restless), and impulsivity (making hasty decisions).
• Auditory processing disorder: This is a neurological condition that makes it difficult to make sense of sounds. 

Feeding and swallowing disorders affect how you suck, chew, and swallow food and drinks. Difficulty swallowing is also known as dysphagia , which can result in choking during meals—and lung infections if food or liquid enters the airways.  It can occur with structural abnormalities, muscular weakness, or neurological conditions like a stroke.  

How Does Speech Therapy Work?

Speech therapy involves techniques like language practice, pronunciation exercises, voice therapy, and swallowing exercises. It begins with a thorough assessment, including observation of communication strategies, challenges, and frustrations.

Speech therapy for infants, toddlers, and children involves fun and engaging activities like play, language exercises, reading, picture cards, and modeling correct sounds. This helps make learning more enjoyable.  

Parents or caregivers often attend sessions and learn ways to support children at home. The ST or SLP will tailor the treatment plan to the child’s developmental stage. Early recognition and intervention (treatment) can help improve outcomes.

With adults, the ST or SLP will begin with an assessment to identify specific challenges. They will then create a specific care plan that addresses underlying concerns such as:

• Medical conditions
• Accent modification
• Voice challenges
• Pronunciation
• Conversational language
• Problem-solving
• Memory exercises

What To Expect During Speech Therapy

Speech therapy can occur in a class, small group, online, or one-on-one. Speech therapists typically assign exercises to practice at home in order to reinforce what you learn. Activities might include:

• Vocal warm-ups like humming 
• Tongue twisters to improve articulation
• Breaking words into syllables to improve clarity
• Contrasting word exercises—for example, "ship" versus "sheep"
• “Pausing” practice (for stuttering)
• Repetition after listening to a native speaker 
• Repetition exercises for sounds like “s” 
• Speech rate control—for example, by tapping hands to a beat
• Pitch exercises
• Breathing and posture exercises

Receptive language exercises include:

• Memory or problem-solving exercises
• Reading comprehension (similar to a book report)
• Speech supplementation (written, gestural, voice amplifier, speech-generating devices)
• Word association
• Communication partner exercises, such as practicing eye contact and active listening

Exercises for swallowing and feeding include:

• Diet modification (pureed to solid foods)
• Oral muscle strengthening (like tongue “push-ups”)
• Swallowing exercises

Benefits of Speech Therapy

One of the main goals of speech therapy is to enhance a person’s ability to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions effectively. This can lead to a greater sense of self-expression, meaningful interactions with others, and less frustration. Other benefits include:

• Greater self-confidence: Gaining more control over language and communication can increase confidence and boost self-esteem. As a result, you might be more willing and excited to engage in social activities. 
• Improved academic or professional performance: Clear speech and language can lead to enhanced skills in comprehension, reading, and writing. This can support academic success. Better articulation, language, and presentation abilities can help with career development.
• Greater independence: Speech therapy can lead to greater self-reliance, especially if you have severe communication challenges. For example, augmented and alternative communication (AAC) methods , such as speech-generating devices (SGDs), can allow you to express yourself more independently.

How Successful Is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy's “success” depends on your goals. The meaning of success can vary based on your underlying communication or medical condition and its severity, as well as your motivation and commitment to therapy, the therapist's expertise, and your support systems. The time it takes to reach your goals also varies based on underlying factors like these.

For example, you may define success as improved pronunciation, or you may work towards more effective communication, more skilled accent modification, or swallowing without choking. If you stutter, your goal might be improved fluency or feeling more comfortable communicating openly with a stutter. For most people, what’s most important is to set realistic expectations and recognize that any improvement in communication is a success.

How To Find a Speech Therapist

A qualified speech therapist or speech-language pathologist holds a master's degree in speech-language pathology and state licensure to practice in your area. You can find speech therapists in settings like:

• Home health agencies
• Rehabilitation centers
• Private practice
• Telehealth (online)

You can also ask for recommendations from healthcare providers or school personnel who may know local speech therapists. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) also offers an online directory of certified speech therapies to help you locate someone in your area.

Check with your health insurance provider to see if they cover speech therapy. They can provide you with information about your co-payments and deductibles. If your insurance doesn't cover the cost, the clinic or speech therapist may offer payment plans . Some children may also qualify for:

• Individualized education programs (IEPs) that cover speech therapy costs as a service from the school district
• Early intervention (EI) or Preschool on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) programs for infants and toddlers for little or no cost to families
• State and federal programs, like Medicaid
• Financial assistance programs from non-profit and advocate organizations

A Quick Review

Speech therapy is a specialized healthcare field in which trained professionals help improve speech, language, hearing, swallowing, and feeding for people of all ages. Speech therapists (STs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) thoroughly assess and develop specific treatment plans for a wide range of conditions including difficulty communicating or processing language, stuttering, and voice disorders.

Speech therapy takes place in locations like schools, hospitals, and private practice. It can be one-on-one or in a group setting. Success depends on underlying factors such as the severity of the condition. It also depends on personal goals and your definition of success—which can vary widely from person to person.

Many people who have speech therapy experience powerful benefits that affect them in nearly every aspect of life, including greater self-confidence and self-reliance.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, language .

Houtrow A, Murphy N. Prescribing physical, occupational, and speech therapy services for children with disabilities . Pediatrics ; 143 (4): e20190285. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0285

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Who are speech-language pathologists, and what do they do? .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Stuttering .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Stuttering .

Law J, Dennis JA, Charlton JJ. Speech and language therapy interventions for children with primary speech and/or language disorders . The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2017 (1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012490

Krekeler BN, Weycker JM, Connor NP. Effects of tongue exercise frequency on tongue muscle biology and swallowing physiology in a rat Model . Dysphagia . 2020; 35 (6):918. doi:10.1007/s00455-020-10105-2

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Speech and language developmental milestones .

National Institute of Health Clinical Center. Speech and language pathology .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dysarthria in adult

Brady MC, Kelly H, Godwin J, Enderby P, Campbell P. Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke . The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2016 (6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000425.pub4

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Scope of practice in speech-language pathology .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Help finding a professional .

Related Articles

Masks Strongly Recommended but Not Required in Maryland, Starting Immediately

Due to the downward trend in respiratory viruses in Maryland, masking is no longer required but remains strongly recommended in Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical locations in Maryland. Read more .

• Vaccines  
• Masking Guidelines
• Visitor Guidelines  

Speech-Language Pathologist

What is a speech-language pathologist.

Speech-language pathologists specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating people with communication problems that result from disability, surgery, or developmental disorders. They are also instrumental in preventing disorders related to speech, language, cognitive communication, voice, and fluency. This includes both understanding speech and speaking problems. They also evaluate and treat people with swallowing disorders due to stroke, brain injury, or other nervous system impairments.

Speech-language pathologists often direct care related to:

Speech, language, and swallowing disorders

Speech fluency and stuttering disorders

Voice disorders

Augmentative communication devices

Written language disorders

Cognitive (thinking, memory, and learning) disorders

Speech-language pathologists may practice in a variety of settings, including:

Early intervention—head start and other early childhood development programs

Inpatient rehabilitation centers

Outpatient rehabilitation centers

Nursing homes

Home health settings

Telepractice

Private practice

Most speech-language pathologists hold a master's degree and a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology through the American Speech and Hearing Association.

Find a Treatment Center

Find Additional Treatment Centers at:

• Howard County Medical Center
• Sibley Memorial Hospital
• Suburban Hospital

Request an Appointment

Rehabilitation Nurse

Clinical Social Worker

Occupational Therapist

Related Topics

• Overview of the PM&R Treatment Team

University Administration

• Careers @ USA
• For Current Students
• Request Information
• Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
• Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD)
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Doctor of 
Education (EdD)
• Graduate Certificates
• Clinical Orthopedic Residency (OCS)
• Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship (OMPT)
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Non-Degree Physical Therapy Online Courses
• Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP)
• Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Browse All Degree-Programs
• Admissions & Aid Home
• Scholarships & Grants
• How to Apply
• Cost of Attendance
• Financial Aid
• Application Deadlines
• Academic Calendar
• Financial Aid FAQ
• Admissions FAQs
• Catalog/Handbook
• Our History
• Accreditation
• B Corp Certified
• Change of Ownership
• Student Achievement Data
• Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
• Diversity & Inclusion
• San Marcos, California
• St. Augustine, Florida
• Miami, Florida
• Austin, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Our Faculty
• Board of Directors

Speech-Language Pathology SLP

| 20 June 2024

What Is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) & What Do They Do?

What does SLP stand for? A speech-language pathologist (SLP) diagnoses and treats issues related to speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. 1 For patients who struggle to communicate or swallow, these healthcare professionals help them to better engage with the world around them.

What is a speech pathologist’s career outlook? Read on to learn more about this exciting and promising field of work.

Table of Contents:

• What Do Speech-Language Pathologists Do?

Where Do Speech-Language Pathologists Work?

What conditions do speech-language pathologists treat.

• Earn Your MS-SLP at USAHS

What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?

What is a speech-language pathologist? SLPs are communication specialists who treat speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders . 1

What does a speech pathologist do for their patients on a day-to-day basis? As part of their work, they may provide the following services : 2 , 1

• Evaluate and diagnose speech, language, voice and fluency disorders in children and adults
• Develop therapies to help patients improve their ability to swallow
• Identify treatment goals for patients
• Design and implement individualized treatment plans, including speech therapy activities , to help patients meet their treatment goals
• Provide aural rehabilitation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Treatments may include : 2 , 1

• Teaching patients how to make sounds
• Helping patients improve their voices
• Training patients to maintain fluency when speaking
• Developing exercises to strengthen the muscles used for swallowing
• Sharing vocabulary improvement strategies with patients
• Assisting patients with strategies to improve their sentence structure
• Demonstrating how to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems to communicate

Speech-language pathologists may also spend time helping patients and their families navigate their disability and treatment options. 2 Many speech-language pathologists work as part of a larger healthcare team, including physicians and occupational therapists (OTs) or physical therapists (PTs).

What is a speech pathologist’s typical work environment? Speech-language pathologists often work in a variety of settings. The largest employers of speech-language pathologists were as follows:

What is a speech-language pathologist’s role in childhood development? Over half of SLPs work as a part of early intervention programs, preschools or K-12 schools. 3 , 4 In addition to the regular duties of a speech-language pathologist, they also develop individualized education programs (IEPs) and collaborate with other educators to ensure students are meeting their educational goals.

Healthcare settings for speech-language pathologists include the following : 4 , 5

• Assisted living facilities
• Private practices and clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Long-term care facilities
• Home health agencies

Some speech-language pathologists also work in corporate settings. 4   What is an SLP’s duty in such settings? They may work with employees on business speaking skills, such as presentation, accent modification or interviewing.

Local, state and federal government agencies hire speech-language pathologists for public health services. 4 The military also employs speech-language pathologists to work with service members and underserved populations.

If you don’t want to work in a clinical setting, you can pursue a role in research or teach at the college or university level. 1

With the high demand for speech-language pathologists, SLPs may work full- or part-time. 1

What is a speech-language pathologist’s role in treating various conditions? They provide solutions for a range of disorders caused by trauma, illness, developmental delays and medical events such as strokes . 2

Speech-language pathologists often treat speech disorders, including: 5

• Articulation disorders: Difficulty controlling muscle movements to create sound
• Phonological disorders: Sounds that are formed correctly in the muscles but don’t sound the way they should
• Resonance disorders: Disruption of sound waves due to conditions such as a cleft palate
• Speech impairments: Various conditions that make it difficult for a person to communicate and be understood, such as childhood apraxia of speech and stuttering

What do speech pathologists do to help patients improve? A speech-language pathologist may work with patients struggling with language disorders such as : 1 , 5

• Problems with receptive language (the ability to understand others)
• Problems with expressive language (the ability to share their ideas and feelings)
• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Selective language impairment

Speech-language pathologists also treat social communication disorders , including any condition relating to verbal and nonverbal communication in social settings. 1 Individuals with autism or traumatic brain injuries also struggle with social communication disorders 5 , 1

Patients with cognitive communication disorders— often the result of stroke, traumatic brain injury or dementia —may also work with a speech-language pathologist. 1 These issues include difficulties with:

• Organizing thoughts
• Paying attention
• Remembering
• Problem-solving

Speech-language pathologists also treat swallowing disorders that may occur due to illness, surgery, stroke or injury. 1 , 5

Additionally, someone may seek treatment from a speech-language pathologist for issues related to the vocal cord, such as lesions and paralysis or for gender-affirming voice therapy. 5

Is this true, or is it more accurate to say: Individuals with autism or TBIs also struggle with social communication disorders.

Learn more about a career in speech-language pathology with answers to these common questions.

What Is a Speech-Language Pathologist, and How Do They Differ From a Speech Therapist?

When it comes to SLP meaning, a speech-language pathologist and a speech therapist are the same thing, but speech-language pathologist is the preferred term. 5

How Much Does a Speech-Language Pathologist Make?

What is a speech pathologist typically earning per year? The median annual salary for a speech-language pathologist is $89,290 . 6 Your salary will depend on factors like your experience, location and industry.

What Specialties Are Available in Speech-Language Pathology?

What is a speech-language pathologist’s career outlook? There are four specialties available for speech-language pathologists : 7

• Child Language (BCS-CL) from the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders 8
• Stuttering, Cluttering and Fluency Disorders (BCS-SCF) from the American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders 9
• Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) from the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders 10
• Intraoperative Monitoring (BCS-IOM) from the American Audiology Board of Intraoperative Monitoring 11

Requirements vary based on the type of specialty but generally involve an exam, portfolio review or interview to assess your skills and expertise in the specialty area.

What Is the Role of a Speech Pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) plays a crucial role in diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. 1 What is a speech pathologist’s main responsibility? They work with patients of all ages to develop personalized treatment plans that address issues such as speech articulation, language comprehension, and social communication skills.

Want to know more about our SLP program?

Earn your ms-slp with usahs.

“Having practiced with all this technology, I was so much more prepared for my job than my coworkers who went to other schools. I knew just what to do on my first day and now I’m teaching my coworkers about what I learned.”

– Bethany W., USAHS MS-SLP Alum

What is an SLP rewarded with as a result of their hard work? There are many benefits to being a speech-language pathologist , including an impressive salary, job security and the opportunity to make a difference in patient lives.

Pursue your dream of becoming a speech-language pathologist at t he University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS). Our hybrid online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program allows students to take classes online and still engage in hands-on experience.

The USAHS program takes about five trimesters with three different intake dates (spring, summer and fall) to allow for flexibility.*

Our program does not require a GRE, and you’ll have access to state-of-the-art technology and virtual and in-person clinical practicum opportunities, including a pro-bono clinic.

Talk with an enrollment advisor and apply today .

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in Speech-Language Pathology { residential Austin, TX; satellite Dallas, TX; both distance education } at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Speech-Language Pathologists,” ASHA , 2024, https://www.asha.org/students/speech-language-pathologists/ .
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists: What Speech-Language Pathologists Do,” BLS , April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm#tab-2 .
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists: Work Environment,” BLS , April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm#tab-3 .
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Employment Settings for SLPs,” ASHA , 2024, https://www.asha.org/students/employment-settings-for-slps/ .
• Cleveland Clinic, “Speech-Language Pathologist,” Cleveland Clinic , January 12, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24602-speech-language-pathologist .
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists: Pay,” BLS , April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm#tab-5 .
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Clinical Specialty Certification,” ASHA , 2024, https://www.asha.org/certification/clinical-specialty-certification/ .
• American Board of Child Language & Language Disorders, “Applying for Specialty Certification,” ABCLLD , 2021, https://www.childlanguagespecialist.org/applicants/
• American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders, “BCS-SCF Candidates,” American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders , 2024, https://www.stutteringspecialists.org/candidates .
• American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, “Requirements for Applicants,” ABSSD , https://www.swallowingdisorders.org/page/Requirements .
• American Audiology Board of Intraoperative Monitoring, “Membership Application,” AABIOM , 2018, https://www.aabiom.com/application .

ARE YOU INSPIRED?

There could be an article about you here one day. Take charge of your own life-story!

Take charge of your own life-story

More Speech-Language Pathology SLP Articles

Dr. Elisabeth McGee Discusses USAHS’ Driving Role in Future-Focused Healthcare

Unveiling the Future: Dr. Elisabeth McGee Shares How USAHS is Uniquely Harnessing the Power of AI

How To Become A Speech Pathologist: 6 Meaningful Career Steps

Upcoming speech-language pathology slp events.

Dallas, TX Commencement - Tuesday, August 20, 2024 @ 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | USAHS

Miami, FL Commencement - Wednesday, August 21, 2024 4:00pm-6:00pm ET | USAHS

San Marcos, CA Commencement - Wednesday, August 21 4:00pm-6:00pm PT | USAHS

Warning: The NCBI web site requires JavaScript to function. more...

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings
• Browse Titles

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.

InformedHealth.org [Internet].

In brief: what is speech therapy.

Created: August 12, 2020 ; Next update: 2024.

Speech therapy can help people who have difficulty speaking to communicate better and to break down the barriers that result from speech impediments. The goals of speech therapy include improving pronunciation, strengthening the muscles used in speech, and learning to speak correctly.

Speech therapy can be used for a lot of different speech problems and disorders, from smaller problems like a hoarse voice up to partial loss of speech due to brain damage. Depending on the type of disorder, other medical or psychological treatments may be used as well.

• What kinds of disorders can speech therapy treat?

Speech therapy can be used to treat language disorders, speech disorders and swallowing problems.

Language disorders

A childhood language disorder can affect the child’s ability to learn to speak, to name objects and build complete sentences. Although the causes of these disorders are often not clear, the main known risk factors include hearing problems , general developmental problems and disorders affecting the development of the brain.

Language disorders in adults are almost always the result of brain injury or disease. People who have had a stroke , for example, often have trouble forming sentences or remembering words. That type of disorder is called aphasia.

Speech disorders

People with speech disorders have difficulty producing the sounds of speech, saying words clearly or talking fluently.

Children often have trouble with pronunciation, and may have a lisp or swap certain sounds for others. Speech disorders may be the result of developmental disorders, but psychological factors might also play a role. Adults with neurological diseases sometimes have speech disorders too, often making it hard to understand them.

Another group of speech disorders, known as fluency disorders, involve problems with the flow or evenness of speech. People with this sort of disorder may stutter or “clutter,” for example. When people stutter, there are often silent pauses in their speech, or they repeat or lengthen certain sounds or syllables. Cluttering is abnormally fast speech that makes the pronunciation imprecise or leaves out sounds or parts of words.

Voice disorders (dysphonia)

A voice disorder is a persistent change in someone’s voice. They might sound hoarse, strained, raspy or nearly silent. Often the voice is somewhat weak – in other words, it cracks easily or the person is not able to speak loudly. Voice disorders may arise from speaking too much or too loudly, from using the wrong breathing technique, or from problems with the voice box (larynx) like vocal nodules . Psychological causes like depression or a reaction to a distressing event can change a person’s voice too.

Trouble swallowing

In people with swallowing problems, the movements of the muscles involved in swallowing are affected. This leads to problems transporting food through the mouth and throat. The cause is often a disease or disorder of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease , multiple sclerosis, dementia , an infection like Lyme disease or tetanus, or a head injury. If food gets into the lungs because of a swallowing disorder, it can lead to life-threatening complications.

What treatments are used in speech therapy?

There are various speech therapy techniques for each of the areas described above – the ones that are considered depend on the particular disorder. A long series of treatment sessions is typically needed, with each lasting 30 to 60 minutes. They may take place in a group or one-on-one.

The treatment approaches used in speech therapy include:

• Perception exercises, for example to differentiate between individual sounds and syllables
• Exercises to produce certain sounds and improve the fluency of speech
• Exercises to improve breathing, swallowing and the voice
• Help with communication using things like sign language, communication boards and computer-assisted speech
• Advice for people who need speech therapy, their parents and other loved ones
• Support in implementing these measures in everyday life

For the treatment to help over the long term, it’s often important to also regularly practice the techniques at home.

• Where is speech therapy offered?

Speech therapy is offered at the following facilities:

• Speech therapy practices
• Rehabilitative care centers
• Special needs schools
• Children's day care facilities specializing in speech therapy

Besides speech therapists, there are a number of other specialists who also use similar methods. These include breathing, speech and voice coaches.

• Do statutory health insurers cover the costs of speech therapy?

Note: The procedures and requirements for applying for and receiving speech therapy may vary according to your country. This information describes the current situation in Germany.

To have outpatient treatment at a speech therapy practice, you need a prescription from a doctor. An initial prescription will generally include up to 10 treatments, each typically lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Appointments are usually offered one to three times per week.

For the medical conditions listed above, prescribed speech therapy is often covered by statutory health insurers (apart from a fixed amount that you have to pay yourself, known as a copayment). The copayment does not have to be paid when getting a treatment that has been prescribed for children. If speech therapy is given as a part of rehabilitative care, an accident insurer or pension fund will cover the costs.

The copayment that you have to pay for yourself is 10 euros per prescription plus 10% of the treatment costs. If each treatment costs 55 euros, for example, for ten treatments you would have to pay 65 euros (the basic fee of 10 euros per prescription plus 10 x 5.50 euros).

Some speech therapists may offer certain treatments without a prescription. You then have to pay for all of the costs yourself. In Germany, these are known as individual health care services (individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen, or IGeL for short).

The German Federal Association of Speech Therapists (DBL) has a search function for speech therapists on their website (in German).

• Bode H, Schröder H, Waltersbacher A (Ed). Heilmittel-Report 2008. Ergotherapie, Logopädie, Physiotherapie: Eine Bestandsaufnahme. Stuttgart: Schattauer; 2008.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachheilpädagogik (DGS). Ausbildung in der Sprachheilpädagogik .
• Deutscher Bundesverband für akademische Sprachtherapie und Logopädie (dbs). Der Verband [ dbs homepage ]. 2020.
• Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie (dbl). Logopädie . 2020.
• Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA). Richtlinie über die Verordnung von Heilmitteln in der vertragsärztlichen Versorgung (Heilmittel-Richtlinie/HeilM-RL) . July 1, 2020.
• Verband der Ersatzkassen (vdek). Rahmenvertrag zwischen LOGO Deutschland und den Ersatzkassen über die Versorgung mit Leistungen der Stimm-, Sprech- und Sprachtherapie. Anlage 1: Leistungsbeschreibung . June 1, 2017.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

• Cite this Page InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. In brief: What is speech therapy? 2020 Aug 12.

In this Page

Informed health links, recent activity.

• In brief: What is speech therapy? - InformedHealth.org In brief: What is speech therapy? - InformedHealth.org

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

Connect with NLM

National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure

Help Accessibility Careers

• Application Requirements
• Tuition and Financial Aid
• Clinical Practica
• Planning Your Studies
• How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist: Step-by-Step Instructions

What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?

• Apply Now External link: open_in_new

Speech@Emerson / Resources

August 20, 2020 

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide care to people with speech, language, cognition or swallowing impairments, from infants to older adults and everyone in between. If you are interested in a health care career that offers an array of specialties, practice settings or clientele, speech-language pathology may be the field for you. This resource will outline what a career in speech-language pathology entails, highlight the differences between a speech-language pathologist and speech therapist, and describe the different settings where SLPs offer their services.

What Is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, treating and developing plans of care to help improve, maintain and restore certain skills and functions in their clients. Such functions include:

• Articulation or phonological disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech.
• Language processing challenges.
• Language fluency, including stuttering.
• Feeding and swallowing difficulties due to dysphagia.
• Social communication pragmatics.

Licensing requirements to practice as an SLP vary by state, but most require supervised clinical experience and at least a  Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.).  The  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)  offers certification once individuals have passed the  Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology.

So, why become an SLP? The path to becoming a speech-language pathologist requires hard work. But the career comes with the opportunity to improve an individual’s overall quality of life, and that can be rewarding.

Working in a high-growth field is another reason some people might consider a career as an SLP.  Speech-language pathologists held about 153,700 jobs in 2018,  according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By 2028, the BLS projects that the number of speech-language pathology jobs will reach 195,600.

Speech Pathologist vs. Speech Therapist

What’s the difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist? Actually, there isn’t one. Speech-language pathology is the official profession of an individual who is commonly known as a speech therapist or a speech teacher. The terms are used interchangeably to refer to someone who evaluates clients’ unique communication impairments or disorders and determines a specialized course of treatment to help them improve over time.

Job Description of a Speech Pathologist

The day-to-day duties of a speech-language pathologist may vary based on the work setting and area of specialization. However, some key responsibilities SLPs share are as follows:

• Conduct screenings to assess a client’s speech and swallowing challenges.
• Evaluate and diagnose speech, language and communication disorders.
• Develop an appropriate treatment plan.
• Provide rehabilitation or communication strategies for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Train, communicate and educate family and caregivers of those with communication or swallowing disorders.
• Offer augmentative and alternative communication systems for clients who experience challenges with severe social expression or language comprehension disorders, such as those on the autism spectrum.
• Use an interdisciplinary approach to address a client’s communication and swallowing needs.
• Complete administrative tasks, including the recording of a client’s progress during and after treatment and the maintenance of client records.

There are a variety of work settings that a speech-language pathologist can choose from. SLPs can work in nursing and residential care facilities, offices of audiologists and physical therapists or have offices of their own.

Some SLPs choose to specialize in treating and supporting clients of a specific age group, such as young children or older adults.  Our Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.) program includes applied courses,  such as CD642-Autism: Social Communication Development and Disorder, which introduces students to the development of social communication skills in children. By the time students graduate and become licensed, they will be prepared to work with children with autism and help them to build communication and social skills outside of the typical classroom setting. The knowledge and skills acquired during applied courses may also enable students to support adults with autism who may be joining the workforce. In those cases, the SLP provides direction when it comes to writing cover letters and preparing for job interviews.

Our program also includes  clinical placements . During in-person placements, our students have the opportunity to grow their practical understanding of the communication disorders that they study in the virtual classroom. They also gain exposure to clinical settings and can decide whether they’d like to work in such an environment once they become licensed.

Speech-Language Pathologists in Hospitals vs. in Schools

Hospitals and schools are two of the  most common work settings for speech-language pathologists,  according to ASHA. Both settings come with unique challenges and opportunities.

What Does an SLP Do in a Hospital?

Medical speech-language pathologists work in health care facilities such as hospitals. They belong to an interdisciplinary treatment team that designs and implements a client’s acute or rehabilitation care plan. They may collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, audiologists, or physical and occupational therapists to get the job done. The BLS indicates that  hospital-based SLPs make up 14% of all practicing SLPs.

A hospital-based or medical SLP’s main job functions may include the following:

• Diagnosing and treating cognitive, language, communication and swallowing disorders.
• Working with a range of clients who suffer from chronic diseases or have been affected by neurological events causing trauma to the brain, such as stroke, seizure, cancer or physical trauma.
• Prescribing modified diet plans for clients experiencing difficulty swallowing and symptoms of dysphagia.
• Conducting periodic screenings.
• Providing guidance, support and education to clients and their primary caregivers.
• Informing clinical staff about communication disorders to provide clients with a holistic health treatment plan.
• Conducting research on treatment methods for communication and swallowing disorders.

What Does an SLP Do in a School?

Speech-language pathologists working in education settings constitute 38% of all SLPs,  according to the BLS. Education settings include pre-kindergarten, K–12 public and private schools, and colleges and universities.

SLPs who work in early childhood education settings employ intervention strategies and support students throughout their learning cycles. It is also important for school-based SLPs to advise and work with educators and administrators. This ensures that students’ communication challenges are addressed holistically, so as not to disrupt their learning.

A school-based SLP or speech teacher’s key responsibilities may include the following:

• Conducting diagnostic evaluations and assessing students’ communication skills.
• Working with school-age children or college students with a range of learning, physical and auditory disabilities or disorders that adversely affect their educational performance.
• Identifying students who may be at risk for future communication and swallowing disorders or challenges.
• Consulting with and informing teachers, administrators and families about the prevention of and treatment for communication disorders.
• Performing classroom-based services as well as facilitating small-group and individual speech sessions.
• Working collaboratively to develop a treatment plan tailored to an individual student’s communication and swallowing challenges.
• Developing and implementing Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs.
• Documenting as required by federal, state and local agencies.
• Supervising clinical practicums for students working toward their SLP certification.
• Participating in schoolwide curriculum and literacy teams.

The first step to  becoming an SLP  and achieving your career goals is earning a Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.). To learn more about the Speech@Emerson program, including its length, a look into our online campus and what to expect of immersion experiences, visit our  Speech@Emerson program page , contact the admissions team by phone at 855-997-0407 or send an email to  [email protected] .

Citation for this content:  Speech@Emerson, Emerson College’s online Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.)

Request Information

• A to Z Guides

How to Become a Speech Pathologist

Speech pathology is a growing field for people who want to help others speak and communicate more effectively. Speech pathologists are experts in the physical and cognitive elements of spoken language. They work with people of all ages who need assistance speaking more clearly. They can help children with speech delays, adults recovering from illness or injury, or individuals with special needs. 

Learn more about what a speech pathologist does and how to become a speech pathologist. 

What Is a Speech Pathologist?

A speech pathologist, or speech-language pathologist, is a trained professional who diagnoses and treats people who have difficulty with speech, language, social communication, and cognitive communication. Speech pathologists can also assess and treat swallowing disorders in children and adults.

Speech pathologists are trained in multiple areas of speech and communication, including:

• Speech sounds: How people make sounds and put sounds together into words. Conditions that cause difficulty with making speech sounds include articulation or phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, or dysarthria.
• Language: How people comprehend written and spoken language, as well as using spoken language for communication. Difficulty finding words while speaking is called aphasia.
• Literacy: using language to read and write. Speech and language disorders may be combined with challenges in reading, spelling, and writing.
• Voice: The sound of your voice. Some people may have conditions that lead to a hoarse voice, losing their voice easily, talking too loudly, or having a nasal voice. Some people are unable to make some or all kinds of sounds.
• Fluency: How well spoken language flows. Stuttering is a common fluency disorder. 
• Cognitive communication: How well your mind manages language, speech, and communication. This may include problems with memory, attention, problem-solving, organization, and other thinking skills.
• Feeding and swallowing : The same physical structures of the mouth that allow speech also affect how you suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid. A swallowing disorder such as dysphagia may co-occur with speech disorders. 

Some speech pathologists also have some training in audiology. Audiology is a separate but related field that addresses hearing and balance issues.  Audiology is particularly helpful for speech pathologists who assist people with hearing loss.

What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?

You may think of speech pathologists as people who work with children who have speech impairments , speech delays, or difficulty pronouncing words. That is one role speech pathologists play, but there are a variety of other therapies they provide. Speech pathologists perform comprehensive assessments to diagnose the reason for communication difficulties. They may work with clients who have speech delays and pronunciation problems. Speech pathologists assist clients with hearing loss who are trying to improve verbal communication. Some speech pathologists work with clients who have speech difficulties due to medical conditions such as stroke or injuries to the face and neck. Once they assess the cause of communication problems, they create a treatment plan that addresses the challenges an individual has.

Some of the services speech pathologists offer include: 

• Helping clients form sounds
• Teaching clients strategies to speak clearly and easily
• Prescribing exercises to strengthen muscles used to speak or swallow
• Helping clients say and understand new words
• Helping clients improve their ability to speak in sentences
• Training clients in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems 
• Working with clients' families to address daily challenges from communication or swallowing problems
• Providing aural rehabilitation for people with hearing loss

What Training Do Speech Pathologists Need?

Becoming a speech pathologist takes years of training. There are multiple levels of education involved in learning the field of speech and language, followed by clinical training. The training to become a certified speech pathologist includes: 

• Earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field: Speech pathologists can start training by majoring in a subject like speech-language pathology, education, psychology, or linguistics.
• Earn a master's degree at an accredited program: You must attend a post-graduate program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) to complete your education.  
• Pass the Praxis examination: Many states require you to pass the Praxis 2 Examination in Speech-Language Pathology to become licensed. The test includes speech-language pathology, screening and assessment of patients, etiology, planning, and implementation of treatment.
• Oversight and mentoring from a speech pathologist who is currently certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
• 1,260 hours of clinical work, typically accrued over 36 weeks
• 80% percent of your clinical experience involving direct patient care
• Obtain licensure and certification: Once you have completed training, you can apply for a license to practice. Each state sets its speech pathologist license requirements. Many states' requirements are similar to the certification standards for ASHA. You may also apply for certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which is a professional organization for speech pathologists.

What Is the Speech Pathology Career Path?

Once you are fully licensed, there are a variety of career options for a practicing speech pathologist, including: 

• Private practice: Seeing clients in your own office or visiting them in their homes.
• Local government: Many counties and cities provide speech therapy services for children . 
• Schools: School systems either hire speech pathologists or contract with speech pathologists in private practice to provide services to students. 
• Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities: Healthcare facilities may provide speech therapy as part of comprehensive rehabilitation services for people recovering from illness or injury.
• College and universities: Speech pathologists may work in higher education, training future professionals in the field. 
• Research: Some speech pathologists engage in research to deepen the understanding of speech and language or innovate new therapies for people in need. 

The median speech pathologist salary was $79,060 per year in 2021. The field is expected to grow by 21% in the next few years, making it one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States. There are no geographic limitations to where speech pathologists can live and practice.

Top doctors in ,

Find more top doctors on, related links.

• Health A-Z News
• Health A-Z Reference
• Health A-Z Slideshows
• Health A-Z Quizzes
• Health A-Z Videos
• WebMDRx Savings Card
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Hepatitis C
• Diabetes Warning Signs
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Morning-After Pill
• Breast Cancer Screening
• Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
• Heart Failure
• Multiple Myeloma
• Types of Crohn's Disease

Speech Therapy: What to Expect and How to Ask for What You Want

 6 min read

If a loved one has suffered a stroke or a brain injury, or has a neurological disease that affects communication, you may find yourself suddenly enrolled in speech therapy.

It’s something nobody wants to need, but if your loved one needs it, speech therapy quickly becomes something you can’t get enough of. Limited availability, caps on funding, and a front-loaded medical system can make families feel as though the time they spend in speech therapy is far too short.

Here are some tips for making the most of the time you have in speech therapy.

Join In or Wait Outside During Speech Therapy Sessions?

The first question that comes up when you take your partner to therapy is whether you should stay in the room for the session.

Most of the time, it’s best for you to stay. You’ll see what the therapist does and learn how to do the same thing at home. The clinician can verify that you have the right information, teach you strategies, and even train you to be a better communication partner.

It may be best to leave the room though if your loved one is distracted by your presence, always looks to you for answers, or doesn’t try to participate.

The first session or two will probably be filled with tests, and it’s important that you don’t help or speak during the assessments. If you can sit quietly, it should be okay to be there. Your therapist will let you know otherwise.

Being a caregiver can be exhausting, and an hour of speech therapy may seem like a great time for you to run errands. But you’ll both get far more out of the experience if you stick around. If you need time to yourself, look for an adult daycare, a volunteer, or a respite program that can give you the break you need.

“I personally am very glad that I was able to sit in and observe my husband’s speech therapy. It proved invaluable to me, as I would be the one to support him in his therapy at home. I learned so much from his Speech Therapist and was able to truly see where my husband was struggling. I can now recognize his frustration when he has trouble and we work through it.” – Theresa Romijn, wife of a stroke survivor

Why All the Tests?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or Speech-language therapists (SLTs) often have to administer standardized tests to determine their clients’ eligibility for speech therapy. They also need to gather baseline data, to learn what the clients can do before starting speech therapy, and to know where to begin.

Unfortunately, many tests don’t allow any help or confirmation of correct answers. This can make these tests a bit nerve-wracking. Don’t worry—the tests will help the therapist understand your loved one’s needs. They won’t last long, and your partner can’t “fail” them. Once they’re over, your loved one can spend the rest of the speech therapy time focused on getting better.

Goal-Focused Speech Therapy

After the tests, the SLP will set goals to guide your loved one’s speech therapy.

Therapists set what are called  SMART goals . A SMART goal is:

• Specific —the goal is clear and unambiguous
• Measurable —the goal can be seen and measured in a concrete way
• Attainable —the goal is realistic; it may be challenging, but it’s not out of reach
• Relevant —the goal is worthwhile; it supports and is aligned with other goals, and team members buy into it
• Time-based —the goal has a specific target date. Figure 1. SMART goals are useful in many areas of life. When a goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based, it creates a sense of optimism and urgency and gets you ready for success.

Unless a goal meets all five criteria (i.e., it’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based), it’s not likely to be helpful. You may not even know whether you’ve attained it.

When asked about their goals for speech therapy, clients and their families often say they want to “get back to normal.” While understandable, this is neither a specific nor a measurable goal for therapy. What does “normal” mean? How long will you wait before deciding whether you’re there? How will you know you’re there?

SMART goals for therapy might be something like:

• Client will use a first-letter self-cueing strategy when unable to think of a word in conversation at least 75% of the time within two weeks.
• Client will independently repeat unclear speech using a slower rate when not understood on 80% of occasions within three weeks. 

As a first step, your loved one should try to identify exactly what he or she wants to achieve in the next few weeks or months. Once you have a goal, you and your partner can develop a plan for reaching it. If you don’t know what’s realistic, ask your therapist for advice. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wisely said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

It’s a Goal! Setting Patient-Centered Speech Therapy Goals for Aphasia Rehabilitation

 7 min read

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy comes in many forms. A comprehensive therapy plan often includes four components:

Remediation

Compensation, participation.

Your loved one will probably be given exercises that  remediate , or help improve the underlying problem. These exercises are opportunities to practice—in a supportive environment—the exact things he or she has trouble with.

Your loved one will probably have to repeat these exercises many times before the brain or behavior will change. Expect  homework  between speech therapy sessions.

Some people think therapy should be dedicated solely to remediation. Depending on the nature of the problem, this isn’t always the best approach. Instead of restoring abilities, some forms of speech therapy focus on preserving other abilities, or on using intact skills to compensate for impairments.

Most speech therapy plans include  compensatory strategies , which help a person make up for lost abilities. These are meant to teach skills you and your partner can use when it becomes difficult to communicate or think clearly.

Whether we realize it or not, we all use compensatory strategies. Many of us write our appointments in calendars so we don’t forget them, mentally scan through the alphabet when we can’t think of someone’s name, or repeat what we’ve said a bit louder when someone doesn’t hear us.

In speech therapy, your loved one will learn and practice compensatory strategies specific to their needs.

Communication disorders are complex and emotional. A large part of speech therapy is therefore dedicated to education and counseling. Understanding the disorder and coming to accept its impact are important parts of the therapeutic process.

Your therapist may provide anatomical diagrams, brochures, websites, and other resources to help you and your partner understand what’s happening and why. He or she may also refer your loved one to other professionals or support groups that can help.

The end goal of therapy is to restore a person to full participation in life. Speech therapy therefore includes activities intended to help your loved one  generalize  or  transfer  (i.e., carry over) the skills learned in the therapy clinic into the outside world.

Once your partner has mastered speaking clearly in words, phrases, sentences, and conversations, for example, he or she may be asked to try speaking on the phone or speaking with strangers.

Working in partnership often results in the most effective speech therapy, so speak up! Although your SLP is highly trained, knowledgeable, and an expert in communication disorders, you and your partner are the experts in your partner.

The therapist should ask about your loved one’s goals before deciding what to work on. If you or your partner have questions about what’s going on, or disagree with something, don’t be afraid to speak up.

The therapist wants to help, and gains nothing by providing less than effective therapy. He or she is not a mind reader. Get the most from your sessions by communicating openly and working collaboratively with the therapist.

When you and your loved one set SMART goals, and talk about remediation, compensation, education, and participation, you and your therapist are all speaking the same language.

With a Tactus Therapy app, you can get more repetitions and practice in between speech therapy sessions—and this can help speed up your progress. We have a wide range of apps for speech therapy to cover many goals and abilities. Use our  App Finder  to find the right apps for you.

If you liked this article, Share It !

Megan S. Sutton , MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and co-founder of Tactus Therapy. She is an international speaker, writer, and educator on the use of technology in adult medical speech therapy. Megan believes that technology plays a critical role in improving aphasia outcomes and humanizing clinical services.

Copyright © 2024 SpeechPathology.com - All Rights Reserved

• What is the Difference Between a Speech Therapist and a Speech Pathologist?

Donald Fuller Speech-Language Pathologist

April 17, 2006.

• Ask the Experts
• Early Intervention

In a word: none. The terms "speech therapist" and "speech pathologist" have been used for years as titles for persons who work with persons having communication impairments. In the past, the term "speech pathologist" was used by professionals to describe themselves, but the term most commonly used today is "speech-language pathologist" or "SLP." Lay people have more often referred to us as "speech therapists," "speech correctionists," or even "speech teachers." These are all terms that describe the same profession, but "speech-language pathologist" is the preferred term because it captures the essence of our work (speech and language) and also signifies that we are qualified by our training and clinical experience to identify, assess, and provide remediation for pathological conditions of communication. The term "speech" is used to denote the components of vocal activity such as phonation (the production of a vocal tone via the larynx or "voice box"), articulation (the movement of the structures in the mouth to create speech sounds to produce words), resonance (the overall quality of the voice as well as the process that transforms the vocal tone into what we recognize as a person's "voice") and fluency (the timing and synchronization of these components of the complex speech act). "Language" refers to the comprehension and production of language, including the mode in which it is comprehended or produced (oral, gesturing, writing, or reading). Even the term "speech-language pathologist" doesn't quite capture the totality of our scope of practice. For example, speech-language pathologists also address the needs of persons who exhibit difficulties with cognitive functions (attention, memory, problem-solving), literacy, social interaction, and swallowing. Considering such a wide scope of practice, perhaps in the future a new term will be coined to describe who we are and what we do. Dr. Donald R. Fuller has been a speech-language pathologist for 16 years. He is Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders at Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. His doctorate degree was earned from Purdue University in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Related Courses

Facilitating first verbs through shared book reading, course: #9735 level: introductory 1 hour, continued conversations, the ce podcast: an introduction to feeding responsively, course: #1033745 level: intermediate 1 hour, recognizing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (fasd) to improve outcomes, course: #8724 level: intermediate 1 hour, responsive feeding: together at the table, course: #1033750 level: intermediate 4 hours.

Master skills to implement in your practice immediately with continu ed SLP Master Class. This 4-hour master class focuses on responsive feeding in the context of child development, common feeding struggles, the parent-caregiver relationship, and working with the team.

The Role of Relationships in Early Development: The Connection Between Experiences and Language Capacity

Course: #8727 level: introductory 1 hour.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy .

How To Become A Speech Pathologist: A Step-By-Step Guide

Updated: Jul 6, 2023, 10:29am

Human communication is astoundingly complex. Every language spoken on Earth comprises vocabularies with tens of thousands of words, built with dozens of speech sounds. Languages enable us to discuss almost any concept, and learning new languages can offer opportunities for enrichment expanding past cultural and geographical borders.

However, intervention by a speech pathologist is critical when human speech and language are impaired. Speech pathologists treat various speech, language and swallowing disorders (speech and swallowing use the same muscles). By attending speech pathologist school, you’re embarking on a journey to help people regain their ability to communicate clearly and connect with others on a human level.

Read on to learn how to become a speech pathologist.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
• 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
• All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
• Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
• Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

What Is a Speech Pathologist?

A speech pathologist is a clinical professional who helps patients overcome communication or swallowing challenges. Speech pathologists work to improve patients’ quality of life by fortifying their language and fluency skills, bolstering their vocabulary, and restoring their ability to enjoy foods and liquids safely.

Issues that speech pathologists treat include:

• Speech impediments: How we vocalize sounds and articulate words is crucial to our communication abilities. Speech impediments may severely hinder vocalization to the point where a person can’t speak at all or in a way others can understand. Speech pathologists help patients overcome these issues and strengthen their ability to speak and communicate clearly.
• Language disorders: People with language disorders may struggle to understand the words or sounds used by others or come up with the right words while speaking. Speech pathologists help patients expand their vocabulary and fortify their comprehension.
• Fluency issues: Fluency pertains to how well speech flows. Somebody with a stutter, for example, may seek treatment and counseling from a speech pathologist.
• Swallowing disorders: Difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia) can stem from various causes, including past surgeries, radiation and neurological damage. Dysphagia can lead to malnutrition if left untreated. Speech pathologists help patients strengthen and develop the muscles necessary to swallow properly.

Work Environment

Speech pathologists work in various professional settings. Most work in educational facilities, including state, local and private settings. Others work in clinical offices, hospitals or nursing and residential care facilities. In rare cases, speech pathologists may be self-employed, but most work as part of a team.

Common Challenges

Speech pathologists must have a firm handle on treating and interacting with people from diverse populations. They should know how to approach people of various ages and ethnic backgrounds with a range of disorders.

Speech pathology can also be emotionally taxing. Speech pathologists must be compassionate and empathetic toward their patients; it can be challenging to witness as patients struggle with severe speech impediments or swallowing disorders.

Speech Pathologist Salary and Job Outlook

Speech pathologists take home a median annual wage of $84,140, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The job outlook for this profession is overwhelmingly positive; employment is estimated to grow by 21% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average projected growth for all other occupations.

How to Become a Speech Pathologist

Becoming a speech pathologist involves earning a master’s degree, obtaining licensure and clocking several hours of supervised practice.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

While a speech pathologist ultimately needs a master’s degree, starting with your bachelor’s is a good first step. You may not have to earn your bachelor’s degree in a particular subject to qualify for admission to a speech pathology master’s program. However, it could be helpful to pursue your bachelor’s degree in a subject like speech and hearing science, speech pathology or another health-related field.

A bachelor’s degree usually takes four years to complete.

Complete a Master’s Degree

You’ll need to obtain a master’s degree in speech pathology next. Your program must be accredited for you to become certified, and sometimes to earn state licensure as well. The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) accredits speech-language pathology programs.

It generally takes two years to finish a master’s degree. Master’s degree programs require students to complete an internship or supervised clinical work during their studies. Master’s programs cover topics such as fluency disorders, social communication development, dysphagia and language disorders in children.

Obtain Licensure

After finishing your master’s program, you’ll need a license to practice speech pathology in your state. That entails getting a master’s degree from an accredited program, clocking additional supervised clinical experience hours (even if you’ve already completed some as part of your master’s) and passing a licensure exam.

Every state has varying requirements for licensure. In California, for example, speech pathologists must complete 300 supervised hours of clinical practice in three separate clinical settings, along with 36 weeks of supervised full-time required professional experience. Alternatively, they may complete 72 weeks of part-time experience.

In Oklahoma, speech pathologists need a supervised, 400-hour clinical practicum experience. Of those hours, 375 should be in direct client contact and 25 in clinical observation. Pathologists should complete 325 of their practicum hours in a CAA-accredited graduate program.

Certifications for Speech Pathologists

Speech pathologists can earn certifications to demonstrate their professional competency. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Regulatory agencies recognize this certification in most states. Some states and school districts provide pay supplements to ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists.

Candidates must graduate from an accredited program to earn the CCC-SLP credential. They must also pass an exam and log 400 hours of supervised clinical experience. The certification costs $511 for applicants who wish to become ASHA members; it costs $455 without the membership.

Professional Organizations for Speech Pathologists

Speech pathologists may also seek specialized certifications in various speech pathology concentrations. The American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders , the American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders, and the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders all offer specialty certifications.

American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders (BCS-CL)

To become certified as a specialist in child language, you must:

• Be CCC-SLP certified
• Have been employed for five years full-time as a speech pathologist
• Log 100 hours of intermediate or advanced continuing education in the realm of child language in the last 10 years

The application fee for the BCS-CL is $250.

American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders (BCS-F)

Becoming a board-certified BCS-F member requires:

• Being CCC-SLP certified
• A minimum of three years of full-time employment experience in speech pathology
• 450 clinical contact service hours within the area of fluency disorders
• Submitting a portfolio of case studies to be approved.

The application fee is $250.

American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S)

Speech pathologists who specialize in dysphagia can apply to become BCS-S certified. Candidates must:

• Demonstrate advanced continuing education in the dysphagia field
• Have at least three years of experience working directly with dysphagia patients
• Document advanced-level skills in treating swallowing disorders

The application fee is $100.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Become a Speech Pathologist

What is the difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist.

These terms are interchangeable—there’s no difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist. Both speech therapists and speech pathologists help patients overcome vocalization, language, fluency and swallowing issues.

What is the best major for speech pathology?

Speech pathology doesn’t require any particular bachelor’s degree, but majoring in a related subject like speech and hearing science, speech pathology or communications disorders may help your chances of getting into an accredited master’s program. Most speech pathology master’s programs require undergraduate coursework in biology and health-related fields.

How much money do SLPs make?

The median annual salary for a speech pathologist in the U.S. is $84,140, as reported by the BLS. Speech pathologists who work in company and enterprise management make $127,180 on average.

• Best Online Physical Therapy Programs
• Best Master’s In Emergency Management Online Programs
• Best Online Master’s In Nursing Administration
• Best Online Bachelor’s In Healthcare Administration Degrees
• Best Online Healthcare MBA Programs
• Best Online MPH Programs
• Best Online Master’s In Nursing (M.S.N.) Programs
• Best Online Speech Pathology Programs
• Best Online Health Science Degrees
• Best Online Healthcare Management Degrees
• Best Master’s In Healthcare Administration Online
• Everything You Need To Know About BSN Degrees
• How To Become A CNA
• How To Become An RN
• What Are The Most Common Career Changes For Nurses?
• How To Become A CRNA
• How To Become A Doctor
• How To Become A Medical Coder
• How To Become A Pharmacist
• How Long Does It Take To Become A Dentist?
• What Is A Neuroscientist?
• How To Become A Physician Assistant
• How To Become An Ultrasound Technician
• Accelerated Bachelor Of Science In Nursing (A.B.S.N.) Program Guide
• Is There A Four-Week Online Course For Medical Coding And Billing?
• What Are The Best States For Nurses?
• Can You Complete Nursing Prerequisites Online?
• Everything You Need To Know About D.N.P. Degrees
• What To Know About Free Online Medical Billing And Coding Courses
• What Do Medical Billing And Coding Online Courses Cost?
• What Is A CNA?
• How To Study For Nursing School
• Is Medical Billing And Coding Hard?
• All About The NCLEX

Best CPR Certifications Online Of 2024

Best BLS Certifications Online Of 2024

Best Online Fast-Track RN-To-B.S.N. Online Programs Of 2024

Best Online Doctorate In Nursing (D.N.P.) Programs Of 2024

How To Become A Home Health Nurse

How To Become A Director Of Nursing

Cecilia is a freelance writer, content marketing strategist and author covering education, technology and energy. She is a current contributor to the Forbes Advisor education vertical and holds a summa cum laude journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

• Investigates
• Houston Life
• Newsletters

WEATHER ALERT

18 warnings, 2 watches and 76 advisories in effect for 23 regions in the area

Children at texas children’s hospital placed on waitlist for speech therapist following layoffs.

Corley Peel , Reporter

Brittany Taylor , Senior Digital Content Producer

HOUSTON – Since Texas Children’s Hospital announced it laid off 5% of its workforce, KPRC 2 has learned several of those employees include speech, occupational and physical therapists.

The hospital initially announced the layoffs would not impact patient care, but several parents have reached out to KPRC 2 saying that is not true. Many were told that their child will no longer have a speech therapist and have since been placed on a waitlist.

• RELATED: Texas Children’s lays off 5 percent of its workforce

This has been especially concerning for families with children diagnosed with autism, who rely on speech therapy to help with communication.

KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel spoke with Benjamin Zimmerman. He said his son, Artie, is diagnosed with autism and is basically non-verbal. Zimmerman said Artie has been seeing significant progress since starting speech therapy at the beginning of the year.

“He was just babbling and screaming before, and now he’s saying short sentences to three-word sentences,” said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman learned last week that Artie’s speech therapist was apart the mass lay off at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“We got a phone call, saying that all of his appointments would be canceled, moving forward, without warning. It was, very disappointing. We waited a really long time for him to get speech therapy. And we had to wait a really long time for him to be assessed and to find somebody available. And even just to get a facility to take him in for speech therapy. So, it was really heartbreaking,” said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was told Artie has been put on a waitlist for new speech therapist. Artie’s progress in speech therapy is allowing him to start preschool next week where free speech therapy is offered. Without his speech therapist at Texas Children’s, Zimmerman worries about his son regressing.

“ My wife and I watch the speech therapist, and we do our best to kind of mimic what she was doing, but we’re not trained. And we’re not professionals,” said Zimmerman.

• RELATED: Physician assistant offered job at Texas Children’s Hospital, was told there was a hiring freeze after relocating

KPRC 2 reached out to Texas Children’s Hospital, and they sent the following response:

“Texas Children’s has been working tirelessly to assist patients with rescheduling their appointments throughout our system in order to maintain the high standard of care that our patients deserve. Our teams have been conducting continuous outreach to patients, and a dedicated phone number was provided via their MyChart patient portal account to call for assistance.

“As a result of these efforts, we made great strides in the rescheduling process. Texas Children’s expresses our sincerest gratitude to our patients and families for their understanding during this time.”

The day after this story aired, Texas Children’s reached out to Zimmerman letting him know they found a new speech therapist for Artie and booked him an appointment. Zimmerman said he is relieved his son will continue receiving care from Texas Children’s.

• RELATED: Former Texas Children’s employees voice concerns about mass layoff

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Corley peel.

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.

Brittany Taylor

Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.

Recommended Videos

Parents of Late Talkers - Encouragement Needed!

An expressive speech delay is the most common developmental delay amongst children, with no underlying cause and most catch up by school age.

We also did sign language because he wasn’t talking. He still does signs with words which is cute. And will sign for words he can’t say.

My son only said dada and mama at 20 months and then at a few days past is 20m he said bye bye (I know this bc I was so excited he said a 3rd word that I took a video). We were in speech 2x a month from 16 months to 24 months.

Fast forward only 4 months…. he was saying sentences! (Again I have a video where he says “Two balloon flew away tree” when his 2 balloon from his 2nd birthday got away ��).

I really really really didn’t believe in the “language explosion” everyone talks about. But it is so real and one day he just started pointing out stuff in books like “blue towel” or “big bulldozer”. It’s crazy how their brains work!!

Speech helped me by letting me relax about it- they confirmed there wasn’t anything else going on with him, just expressive language, so I could take a deep breath and know he would get there.

You May Also Like

First birthday themes, best bath seat suggestions, join these moms sharing birth stories, find support in our ppd group, about what to expect, popular articles, tools & registry.

Allied health professions are in demand but students have been excluded from 'placement poverty' solution

By Lottie Twyford

Topic: Education and Training Industry

Physiotherapy student Bree Harris is juggling 25 weeks of unpaid placements across a 12-month period. ( ABC News: Nick Haggarty )

The federal government announced a "Prac Payment" scheme for students in the disciplines of nursing, teaching and social work earlier this year. 

Allied health professions were not included, despite those students having to complete approximately 1,000 hours of unpaid work throughout their degrees. 

What's next?

The Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences is urging the federal government to extend the scheme to allied health students.

Allied healthcare students who are studying to meet the demand caused by the challenges of a rapidly ageing Australian population are facing a challenge all of their own. 

Bree Harris is a mum to a five-year-old and, with her partner, is paying off a mortgage and for childcare and bills, and she's experiencing what experts have labelled "placement poverty".

Ms Harris is a fourth-year physiotherapy student at the University of Canberra, and is this year required to complete 25 weeks of unpaid placement in the space of only 12 months. 

That adds up to about 1,000 hours of unpaid work. 

But each time she has to stop working at her paid job, those bills don't stop piling up. 

Ms Harris said her strategy for minimising the financial hit of her placements was to save up as much as she could beforehand.

"In the lead-up to placement, I was working three jobs," she said.

"I worked as a massage therapist ... across two clinics and then I've been working a night shift at Woolworths just to supplement my income." 

Ms Harris worked three jobs to try save as much as possible before her placements. ( ABC News: Nick Haggarty )

Ms Harris said there were also additional costs associated with placement, like parking, uniforms and certifications or immunisations which added up quickly when she couldn't complete any paid work. 

And while she wasn't eligible for Centrelink, she had been able to access support through UC's scholarship program. 

Nevertheless, by about week eight of her placement, Ms Harris said her family was "feeling the pinch".

"You try and save as much as you can and try to make it go as far as it can. But there's a point where, you know the money dries up," she said.

Financial and emotional toll part of the 'sacrifice' of placement

Most of Ms Harris's placements take place in five-week blocks, but she did complete two of these back-to-back at the start of the year, including five weeks spent working on the New South Wales South Coast.

The latter had been a particularly hard "sacrifice", Ms Harris said. 

"Trying to explain to a four-year-old why mum isn't coming home ... and having to reiterate that constantly, it's heartbreaking," she said.

As she prepared to enter her fourth placement of the year after another 10-week stretch of working multiple jobs, Ms Harris was definitely feeling the "burn-out", she said. 

Arabella Hely has turned to part-time placements to manage the financial impact they can have. ( ABC News: Toby Hunt )

That's a sentiment shared by Arabella Hely, who is studying occupational therapy at the University of Canberra. 

Unlike Ms Harris, Ms Hely has been undertaking her 1,000 hours of placement throughout the course of her degree.

But like the physiotherapy student, Ms Hely has had to "save up" for placement beforehand each time by working additional hours at her retail job. 

She also relies on Centrelink payments and support payments offered by the university during her placements. 

But she said the placements had been tough as a young renter in Canberra. 

"For my last placement, I wasn't working at all for those four weeks, and I really financially struggled," she said. 

"I was having to reach out to family for support and reach out to the university student wellbeing [team] so I was able to get vouchers to pay for things like fuel and groceries."

During placement, Ms Hely said she had to really watch what she was spending money on and budget carefully for groceries and additional fuel costs associated with travelling to the other side of Canberra. 

She also said she wouldn't go out to eat or really do much beyond work and staying at home. 

Occupational therapists are increasingly in-demand as Australia's population ages and chronic conditions become more prevalent. ( ABC News: Toby Hunt )

Part-time placements a partial solution

After the difficulty of full-time placements, Ms Hely has turned to completing hers on a part-time basis to "stay afloat".

That arrangement means she can do three days a week at placement and two days a week at her paid job. 

But even with that in place, Ms Hely still finds placement a "disheartening" time with the worry of her finances always in the back of her mind — especially with the prospect of a HECS debt to start paying off once she graduates next year. 

In May, the federal government announced it would introduce a means-tested Commonwealth payment of $319.50 a week for teaching, nursing and social work students while on placement . 

The scheme will commence in July 2025. 

But that payment won't extend to allied health professions, despite similarly lengthy placement requirements in place for them.

Placement poverty doesn't discriminate, say advocates

That's a concern for the Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences, which is urging the federal government to expand that scheme to address "placement poverty" for allied health students.

Professor Terry Haines is concerned students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds won't go in to allied health disciplines. ( ABC News: Cameron Parke )

ACDHS chair Professor Terry Haines said the issue of placement poverty did not "discriminate" based on the discipline the student was studying. 

And he worried the government's current policy settings would mean students from lower socio-economic backgrounds would be discouraged from going into allied health. 

"I want to see just as many people from lower socio-economic areas graduating physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as we do nursing and social work," he explained.

Professor Haines said it was particularly important to encourage students into allied health given the current and projected workforce shortages. 

"This is something which is quite intense for [the sector] at the moment, particularly after the loss of staff during the pandemic and with the ageing demographic," he explained. 

The council's own modelling suggested there would need to be a "massive increase" in the graduating numbers of allied health professionals in the next decade, Professor Haines said, and practical placements were an integral part of that journey.

He just hoped students could get the financial support necessary to get them to their graduation and into the workforce. 

In response to questions from the ABC, Education Minister Jason Clare said the government was following the recommendations from the Universities Accord. 

"[It] recommended we focus the Commonwealth Prac Payment first on teaching, nursing, midwifery, early education teachers and social work, and that’s what we’re doing," he said in a statement. 

Speech Language Therapist, Temporary

Job posting for speech language therapist, temporary at united methodist retirement communities.

Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)

Hours | Schedule:  3 days a week, 8 hour shifts

Temporary Position:  Starting Mid October for 12 weeks 

Location | Department:  Chelsea Retirement Community | Kresge Health & Rehab Center & Memory Care/Assisted Living  

The  Speech Language Pathologist   diagnoses and treats individuals with speech, language, voice, and fluency impairments. 

What you’ll do:

• Performs hearing and/or speech and language examinations. 
• Evaluates hearing and /or speech and language test results. 
• Evaluates barium swallow, other test results, and overall medical background.
• Diagnoses patients and formulates treatment plans.
• Educates patients and family members about the various communication methods to cope with impairment. 
• Writes reports and maintains client information.
• Performs administrative responsibilities: coordinates paperwork, writes lesson plans, schedules case management activities, and performs record-keeping for administrative, billing and caseload purposes. 
• Develops individual and/or group activities and/or programs.
• Participates in the planning and implementing of individualized educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, or intervention assistance team meetings. 

What it takes:

• Graduate of an accredited Speech-Language Pathology program 
• 3 - 5 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Active Michigan Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) license 
• Excellent verbal and written communication

Why Brio Living Services:

• Daily Pay - Work today, Get Paid tomorrow (Optional)
• Team member referral bonus program.
• Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.

The above is a summary of the position, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. If selected for the position you will receive a full job description.

ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT

Brio Living Services is committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability, please contact us at  [email protected] .

BRIO LIVING SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Brio Living Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Apply for this job

Receive alerts for other Speech Language Therapist, Temporary job openings

Report this Job

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Speech Language Therapist, Temporary .

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

Account Reconciliation Skill

• ATM Service Technician Income Estimation: $40,248 - $59,861
• Trust Clerk II Income Estimation: $42,574 - $53,590

Accounts Payable Skill

• Accounts Payable Clerk I Income Estimation: $42,786 - $52,339
• Accounts Payable Clerk II Income Estimation: $45,786 - $56,530

Job openings at United Methodist Retirement Communities

Not the job you're looking for here are some other speech language therapist, temporary jobs in the chelsea, mi area that may be a better fit., we don't have any other speech language therapist, temporary jobs in the chelsea, mi area right now..

Per Diem Speech Language Therapist

United Methodist Retirement Communities , Chelsea, MI

Speech Language Pathologist

INSPIRE Autism , Fenton, MI

What is ChatGPT? Here's everything you need to know about OpenAI's chatbot

• ChatGPT is getting a futuristic human update. 
• ChatGPT has attracted users at a feverish pace and spurred Big Tech to release other AI chatbots.
• Here's how ChatGPT works — and what's coming next.

OpenAI has started rolling out an advanced voice mode for its blockbuster chatbot ChatGPT.

Sam Altman's company began rolling out the chatbot's new voice mode to a small group of ChatGPT Plus users in July. OpenAI said the new voice feature "offers more natural, real-time conversations, allows you to interrupt anytime, and senses and responds to your emotions."

The feature is part of OpenAI's wider GPT-4o launch, a new version of the bot that can hold conversations with users and has vision abilities. The chatbot's vision features are expected as a later release. 

The move is a big step for the future of AI-powered virtual assistants, which tech companies have been racing to develop.

Since its release in late 2022, hundreds of millions of people have experimented with the tool, which is already changing how the internet looks and feels to users.

Users have flocked to ChatGPT to improve their personal lives and boost productivity . Some workers have used the AI chatbot to develop code , write real estate listings , and create lesson plans, while others have made teaching the best ways to use ChatGPT a career all to itself.

ChatGPT offers dozens of plug-ins to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. An Expedia plug-in can help you book a trip, while one from OpenTable will nab you a dinner reservation. OpenAI has also launched Code Interpreter, a version of ChatGPT that can code and analyze data .

While the personal tone of conversations with an AI bot like ChatGPT can evoke the experience of chatting with a human, the technology that runs on large language model tools doesn't speak with sentience and doesn't "think" the way humans do. 

That means that even though ChatGPT can explain quantum physics or write a poem on command, a full AI takeover isn't exactly imminent , according to experts.

"There's a saying that an infinite number of monkeys will eventually give you Shakespeare," said Matthew Sag, a law professor at Emory University who studies copyright implications for training and using large language models like ChatGPT.

"There's a large number of monkeys here, giving you things that are impressive — but there is intrinsically a difference between the way that humans produce language, and the way that large language models do it," he said. 

Chatbots like ChatGPT are powered by large amounts of data and computing techniques to make predictions to string words together in a meaningful way. They not only tap into a vast amount of vocabulary and information, but also understand words in context. This helps them mimic speech patterns while dispatching an encyclopedic knowledge. 

Other tech companies like Google and Meta have developed their own large language model tools, which use programs that take in human prompts and devise sophisticated responses.

Despite the AI's impressive capabilities, some have called out OpenAI's chatbot for spewing misinformation , stealing personal data for training purposes , and even encouraging students to cheat and plagiarize on their assignments. 

Some efforts to use chatbots for real-world services have proved troubling. In 2023, the mental health company Koko came under fire after its founder wrote about how the company used GPT-3 in an experiment to reply to users. 

Koko cofounder Rob Morris hastened to clarify on Twitter that users weren't speaking directly to a chatbot, but that AI was used to "help craft" responses. 

Read Insider's coverage on ChatGPT and some of the strange new ways that both people and companies are using chat bots: 

The tech world's reception to ChatGPT:

Microsoft is chill with employees using ChatGPT — just don't share 'sensitive data' with it.

Microsoft's investment into ChatGPT's creator may be the smartest $1 billion ever spent

ChatGPT and generative AI look like tech's next boom. They could be the next bubble.

The ChatGPT and generative-AI 'gold rush' has founders flocking to San Francisco's 'Cerebral Valley'

Insider's experiments: 

I asked ChatGPT to do my work and write an Insider article for me. It quickly generated an alarmingly convincing article filled with misinformation.

I asked ChatGPT and a human matchmaker to redo my Hinge and Bumble profiles. They helped show me what works.

I asked ChatGPT to reply to my Hinge matches. No one responded.

I used ChatGPT to write a resignation letter. A lawyer said it made one crucial error that could have invalidated the whole thing .

Read ChatGPT's 'insulting' and 'garbage' 'Succession' finale script

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books contains sex scenes, and banned them if it said yes. We put the system to the test and found a bunch of problems.

Developments in detecting ChatGPT: 

Teachers rejoice! ChatGPT creators have released a tool to help detect AI-generated writing

A Princeton student built an app which can detect if ChatGPT wrote an essay to combat AI-based plagiarism

Professors want to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments, and are returning to paper exams and requesting editing history to curb AI cheating

Related stories

ChatGPT in society: 

BuzzFeed writers react with a mix of disappointment and excitement at news that AI-generated content is coming to the website

ChatGPT is testing a paid version — here's what that means for free users

A top UK private school is changing its approach to homework amid the rise of ChatGPT, as educators around the world adapt to AI

Princeton computer science professor says don't panic over 'bullshit generator' ChatGPT

DoNotPay's CEO says threat of 'jail for 6 months' means plan to debut AI 'robot lawyer' in courtroom is on ice

It might be possible to fight a traffic ticket with an AI 'robot lawyer' secretly feeding you lines to your AirPods, but it could go off the rails

Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology

What public figures think about ChatGPT and other AI tools:

What Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and 12 other business leaders think about AI tools like ChatGPT

Elon Musk was reportedly 'furious' at ChatGPT's popularity after he left the company behind it, OpenAI, years ago

CEO of ChatGPT maker responds to schools' plagiarism concerns: 'We adapted to calculators and changed what we tested in math class'

A theoretical physicist says AI is just a 'glorified tape recorder' and people's fears about it are overblown

'The most stunning demo I've ever seen in my life': ChatGPT impressed Bill Gates

Ashton Kutcher says your company will probably be 'out of business' if you're 'sleeping' on AI

ChatGPT's impact on jobs: 

AI systems like ChatGPT could impact 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, with administrative and legal roles some of the most at risk, Goldman Sachs report says

Jobs are now requiring experience with ChatGPT — and they'll pay as much as $800,000 a year for the skill

ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.

AI is going to eliminate way more jobs than anyone realizes

It's not AI that is going to take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI might, economist says

4 careers where workers will have to change jobs by 2030 due to AI and shifts in how we shop, a McKinsey study says

Companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Meta are paying salaries as high as $900,000 to attract generative AI talent

How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the workforce:

10 ways artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, from writing performance reviews to making the 4-day workweek possible

Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

How ChatGPT is shaping industries: 

ChatGPT is coming for classrooms, hospitals, marketing departments, and everything else as the next great startup boom emerges

Marketing teams are using AI to generate content, boost SEO, and develop branding to help save time and money, study finds

AI is coming for Hollywood. 'It's amazing to see the sophistication of the images,' one of Christopher Nolan's VFX guy says.

AI is going to offer every student a personalized tutor, founder of Khan Academy says

A law firm was fined $5,000 after one of its lawyers used ChatGPT to write a court brief riddled with fake case references

How workers are using ChatGPT to boost productivity:  

CheatGPT: The hidden wave of employees using AI on the sly

I used ChatGPT to talk to my boss for a week and she didn't notice. Here are the other ways I use it daily to get work done.

I'm a high school math and science teacher who uses ChatGPT, and it's made my job much easier

Amazon employees are already using ChatGPT for software coding. They also found the AI chatbot can answer tricky AWS customer questions and write cloud training materials.

How 6 workers are using ChatGPT to make their jobs easier

I'm a freelance editor who's embraced working with AI content. Here's how I do it and what I charge.

How people are using ChatGPT to make money:

How ChatGPT and other AI tools are helping workers make more money

Here are 5 ways ChatGPT helps me make money and complete time-consuming tasks for my business

ChatGPT course instruction is the newest side hustle on the market. Meet the teachers making thousands from the lucrative gig.

People are using ChatGPT and other AI bots to work side hustles and earn thousands of dollars — check out these 8 freelancing gigs

A guy tried using ChatGPT to turn $100 into a business making 'as much money as possible.' Here are the first 4 steps the AI chatbot gave him

We used ChatGPT to build a 7-figure newsletter. Here's how it makes our jobs easier.

I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24/7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me make more money.

A worker who uses AI for a $670 monthly side hustle says ChatGPT has 'cut her research time in half'

How companies are navigating ChatGPT: 

From Salesforce to Air India, here are the companies that are using ChatGPT

Amazon, Apple, and 12 other major companies that have restricted employees from using ChatGPT

A consultant used ChatGPT to free up time so she could focus on pitching clients. She landed $128,000 worth of new contracts in just 3 months.

Luminary, an AI-generated pop-up restaurant, just opened in Australia. Here's what's on the menu, from bioluminescent calamari to chocolate mousse.

A CEO is spending more than $2,000 a month on ChatGPT Plus accounts for all of his employees, and he says it's saving 'hours' of time

How people are using ChatGPT in their personal lives:

ChatGPT planned a family vacation to Costa Rica. A travel adviser found 3 glaring reasons why AI won't replace experts anytime soon.

A man who hated cardio asked ChatGPT to get him into running. Now, he's hooked — and he's lost 26 pounds.

A computer engineering student is using ChatGPT to overcome learning challenges linked to her dyslexia

How a coder used ChatGPT to find an apartment in Berlin in 2 weeks after struggling for months

Food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT to create a curry recipe. She says it's clear the instructions lacked a human touch — here's how.

Men are using AI to land more dates with better profiles and personalized messages, study finds

Lawsuits against OpenAI:

OpenAI could face a plagiarism lawsuit from The New York Times as tense negotiations threaten to boil over, report says

This is why comedian Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT

2 authors say OpenAI 'ingested' their books to train ChatGPT. Now they're suing, and a 'wave' of similar court cases may follow.

A lawsuit claims OpenAI stole 'massive amounts of personal data,' including medical records and information about children, to train ChatGPT

A radio host is suing OpenAI for defamation, alleging that ChatGPT created a false legal document that accused him of 'defrauding and embezzling funds'

Tips on how to write better ChatGPT prompts:

7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity, make your job easier, and save a ton of time

I'm an AI prompt engineer. Here are 3 ways I use ChatGPT to get the best results.

12 ways to get better at using ChatGPT: Comprehensive prompt guide

Here's 9 ways to turn ChatGPT Plus into your personal data analyst with the new Code Interpreter plug-in

OpenAI's ChatGPT can write impressive code. Here are the prompts you should use for the best results, experts say.

Watch: What is ChatGPT, and should we be afraid of AI chatbots?

• Main content