What Do Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants assist speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. Implement speech and language programs or activities as planned and directed by speech-language pathologists. Monitor the use of alternative communication devices and systems. They also implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.

Other tasks include:

• Document clients’ progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.
• Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.
• Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
• Collect and compile data to document clients’ performance or assess program quality.
• Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.
• Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.

We asked Speech-Language Pathology Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Speech-Language Pathology Assistants document clients’ progress toward meeting established treatment objectives. They assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.

A typical day for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant will also include:

• Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
• Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
• Collect and compile data to document clients’ performance or assess program quality.
• Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.
• Test or maintain equipment to ensure correct performance.

We asked some Speech-Language Pathology Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	96% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	88% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	41% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	48% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Speech-Language Pathology Assistants also conduct in-service training sessions, or family and community education programs. They may also assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients’ performance information. They might also Test or maintain equipment to ensure correct performance.

In addition, they Collect and compile data to document clients’ performance or assess program quality.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of speech-language research projects.

To some Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm

http://www.asha.org/