Why Did You Choose Speech Pathology?

“I was drawn to speech-language pathology because

I wanted to help individuals with special needs

, to provide a valuable service to the community, and to work as an independent professional. I’m rewarded by gratitude of families and, as a clinical instructor, by the development of skills in my bilingual students.

Why do I love being an SLP?

It gives me a sense of accomplishment and just makes me happy. All your hard work pays off in an instant. I am always learning something new. There is always new research, new ideas, new people to collaborate with, and I am so grateful for that.

Why did you choose to be a speech pathologist?

My gut tells me that this is why you chose to be a speech-language pathologist.

You wanted to help others communicate and advocate for their wants and needs

. You wanted to make a difference on a person’s daily needs. Your brain loves the sciences, and you get to use this skillset to help others.

What qualities make a good speech pathologist?

• Teachable.
• Strong ethics.
• Good communication skills.
• Capable technologically.
• Conversant with good business practice.
• Curiosity.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Empathy.

Do I want to be a speech-language pathologist?

The reasons abound as to why becoming a speech pathologist is a great idea and we are statistically one of the happiest professions. …

The ability to change directions in your career and remain

a speech pathologist. The ability to contribute to a growing body of medical knowledge.

Are speech pathologists happy?

Speech-language pathology has a high career retention rate (11-35 years) and routinely has a

job satisfaction rate of 85%

while other professions work towards 60%.

What are the disadvantages of being a speech pathologist?

• High case loads. …
• Lack of materials. …
• People who are NOT SLPs providing “speech” services. …
• Bureaucracy in General. …
• Paperwork & Meetings. …
• Scheduling. …
• Plan and Implement Therapy for Diverse Groups. …
• Misunderstandings about Our Role.

Is being an SLP worth it?

Becoming a speech pathologist may be a financially rewarding career choice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2019, median pay for speech pathologists was

$79,120 per year

or $38.04 per hour. The BLS predicts the number of speech pathologist jobs will increase 25% from 2019 to 2029.

Do SLPs make more than nurses?

Advanced practice nurses tend to earn more than speech-language pathologists

. For example, nurse-midwives earned an average of $43.78 an hour as of 2012, about $9 more than speech pathologists. … At an average wage of $74.22 an hour, nurse anesthetists made more than double the pay of speech pathologists.

What do you love about speech pathology?

• Variety of Work Settings. …
• Working with Diverse Clients With Diverse Needs. …
• The Learning Never Ends. …
• The Ability to be Self Employed. …
• Ability to Use our Creativity. …
• Ability to Specialize (or Not) …
• That Feeling When a Client/Student Makes a Goal. …
• Client/Student Progress.

Is it hard to be a speech pathologist?

Before you work in this exciting field, you’ll need to complete a

speech pathology master’s program

. Life as a graduate speech pathology student is busy, challenging and stimulating. See what to expect when you’re an SLP student so you’re ready to tackle what’s ahead.

What skills do you need to be a speech pathologist?

• Active listening. Active listening is a vital skill for SLPs to possess and practice. …
• Adaptability. …
• Leadership. …
• Creativity. …
• Verbal and written communication. …
• Critical thinking. …
• Decision-making. …
• Time management.

Where do speech pathologist make the most money?

Best-Paying States for Speech-Language Pathologists

The states and districts that pay Speech-Language Pathologists the highest mean salary are

Connecticut ($101,410)

, District of Columbia ($99,430), New York ($96,770), New Jersey ($95,710), and California ($92,740).

Do you have to be smart to be a speech pathologist?

Speech-language pathology requires

not only a drive to help others but

also the ability to understand key medical and scientific concepts and technologies. If health, medicine, science, and technology interest you, then this field allows you to put that interest into action every day of your career.

Is speech Pathologist a doctor?

In general, a speech-language pathologist has: Graduated with a master’s degree or a

doctoral degree

from a speech-language pathology program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

How much do speech pathologists make an hour?