The Truth About Speech Pathology Graduate Programs

By Louise Riley

Speech pathology graduate programs are available for those who would like to pursue a career as a speech therapist. There are several you can choose from that will depend on your preferred specialization, location and financial capacity.

An undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology is obtainable in colleges and universities but it is only going to bring you a job being an assistant. There is the option to work as a researcher or speech therapy treatment plan coordinator but not an actual Speech therapist. Becoming a licensed practitioner in this area, you will need at least a Master's degree. Otherwise, you will not be entitled to complete the licensing prerequisites that the state will demand. It will also be noted that coming into a graduate program doesn't need a speech pathology undergraduate degree. It may help you get through the graduate program because you know about the basic principles however it is not really necessary. It simply permits other students to shift into a speech therapy career despite they get their undergraduate degree.

When you are looking for speech pathology graduate programs, search for those that are accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The list should be available on their website. Unless the program you enrol into is accredited, it will not make you eligible to get a license.

Those who enter into speech pathology graduate programs could be trained how to identify and cure language disorders. The disorders are typically from the disease in which the patient contracted or a genetic incapacity. Among these contain neurological ailments such as a heart stroke. Most of us are also born having a language disorder. Kids with late developments are also a few of the patients of speech pathologists. These speech language and hearing disorders are cured by way of a treatment plan that could be executed with the therapist or assistant within a given timeframe.

The subjects included in speech pathology graduate programs include anatomy and physiology. Students work on cadavers to identify the parts of the body - specifically those that are relevant to their field like the respiratory system and the different areas that create sound. They also study the development of language, hearing capabilities and phonetics. Courses on neurological diseases are given emphasis because most speech disorders stem from neuro-related malfunctions. Facial anomalies are also studied like cleft palate disorders and the treatment the patient has to go through when the palate has been surgically fixed.

Students can also choose specializations on children and the elderly as these patients need special care. The major need for speech therapists is in schools. However, statistics show that the current generation is proving to last longer so age related speech disorders are also in need of speech treatment. Apart from the age, the specialization can also be in specific causes of speech disorders like autism or age related illnesses.

Speech pathology graduate programs involve students in training activities that can give them on the job experience that's also required by the licensing board. A certain number of hrs are needed and it differs by state. This may train the students to manage many patients diagnosing speech, hearing and language ailments and getting up using a treatment plan to solve the disorders. Unlike doctors, this will let speech therapist to move straight to work without having to move through an intern program.

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