What is Speech and Language Therapy?

As communication constitutes a fundamental aspect of our humanity, communication breakdown has many ramifications for individuals, families and society in general.  Therefore speech and language therapy can be an equally fascinating, dynamic and challenging career choice.

Speech and Language Therapists:

• work with people in all aspects of human communication
• enable people with communication disorders to achieve their maximum potential to communicate
• work in a team context, in hospitals, schools and community settings
• work with children and adults
• work with people who have voice problems, language impairments, cleft palate, hearing impairments, speech problems and swallowing disorders
• work with people who stutter.

In some cases, an aspect of communication can fail to develop, and in other instances it can break down following a stroke or head injury (i.e. acquired communication disorder).  Communication impairments can have an impact on the persons ability to fully participate in society. "I think there's something wrong with me" by Nigel Smith is one person's account of an acquired communication problem. "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is a film documenting one man's experience of an acquired communication problem.  Temple Grandin's "Thinking in Pictures" describes the experiences of someone who has a diagnosis of autism.  These books and DVD will give you a sense of the people with whom speech and language therapists work. 

Wright, J. & Kersner, M. (2009).  A Career in Speech and Language Therapy. London: Metacom Education. 

These are useful for clarifying any questions you may have.

Please click on the Useful Links button for links to a variety of information regarding Speech and Language Therapy.

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