The Top Doctors Specializing in QUALIFIED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST in VA

Speech-language pathologists treat people of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. They’re trained to help clients with problems in three key areas: speech, language, and related disorders. SLPs help clients work on speech-related issues such as the following: Fluency (how sounds, syllables, words, and phrases flow together when speaking quickly, disorders include cluttering and stuttering), Voice (Voice difficulties include hoarseness—which is often caused by nodules or polyps on the vocal folds—and abnormal pitch), and Articulation (issues such as substitution of one sound for another, slurring of speech, or indistinct speech). Speech-language pathologists treat language disorders such as the following: Aphasia, Language-based learning disabilities, and Pragmatics. SLPs participated in the treatment of swallowing problems and hearing loss in conjunction with healthcare team members, such as gastroenterologists and audiologists. To become a speech-language pathologist, you must first earn your bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, or otherwise complete leveling coursework if your bachelor’s degree is in another area. Aspiring SLPs then complete a specialized graduate program, such as a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, which typically takes two years. After earning their degree, graduates usually complete a clinical fellowship year (CFY). SLPs often must apply for a temporary state license for speech pathology to practice during this fellowship. Most clinical fellowships last for 36 weeks, for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Additionally, in some states, aspiring speech-language pathologists must complete the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), administered through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CCC-SLP is considered the gold-standard credential in the field.Once their education is complete, candidates must pass the Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology to earn state licensure, among other requirements, depending on the state. If the educational program is in Candidate Accreditation status, graduates often need to obtain their CCC in order to apply to states to have their status recognized in the first place. Most students take the exam during their clinical fellowship year.