For Those Considering a Career in Communication Sciences and Disorders

1. For Those Considering a Career in Communication Sciences and Disorders Shannon Hall-Mills, Ph.D., CCC-SLP School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Florida State University Shannon.Hall-Mills@cci.fsu.edu http://www.asha.org/students/professions/overview/slp.htm

2. Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all!

3. Who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech/language/hearing scientists? • professionals in the area of human communication sciences and disorders who: • evaluate • treat • conduct research • advocate • work in schools, hospitals, businesses, in private practice, universities, research laboratories, and government agencies • work with infants, children, adolescents, adults and older generations ASHA Career Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OIcPbndZMo

4. The Patient’s Perspective • Senator Giffords recovery story • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfUKOBlZXdw • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx3nfUKvrZ8 • Excerpt with Stuttering from The King’s Speech: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zq3735M_kk&feature=fvwrel • A young boy with language impairment shares his experience: • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpdjP0zHeBc • Dr. Grandin speaks about the brain of children with autism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcWx8UVhzpQ&feature=fvst

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

6. Who are speech-language pathologists? • professionals educated to assess and treat speech and language • sometimes called speech therapists • also assess and treat swallowing disorders and literacy problems • SLP’s work with full range of human communication and disorders • across the lifespan (infants to elderly)

7. What else do speech-language pathologists do? • train future professionals in colleges and universities • manage agencies, clinics, or private practices • engage in research to enhance knowledge about human communication • develop new methods and assess effectiveness of treatment approaches • serve as expert witnesses in court

8. An example of SLP competencies: the “Big 9” • Articulation • Fluency • Voice and resonance • Language • Hearing • Swallowing • Cognitive aspects of communication • Social aspects of communication • Alternate communication modalities

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

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

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

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

13. Audiology http://www.asha.org/students/professions/overview/audiology.htm • study of: • typical hearing • hearing and balance disorders • habilitation/rehabilitation • work encompasses: • how hearing mechanism works • hearing assessment • treating children and adults with hearing loss • retraining hearing in children and adults, including cochlear implants

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

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

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

17. SCSD @ FSU • Clinic provides: • Speech-language services (all ages): • Evaluations • Therapy • Audiology services: • Evaluations • Hearing Aid Fitting • *Cochlear Mapping • Research: • Across the lifespan • Future: • Veterans Clinic (TBI) • Integrated Preschool FSU Speech & Hearing Clinic 201 W. Bloxham Street

18. QUESTIONS? For more information: http://www.asha.org http://commdisorders.cci.fsu.edu/