Why Study Speech Pathology?
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Speech pathology is a broad profession with a range of different practice areas, all with one common goal – to enable communication for individuals. It also involves working with patients who have swallowing or feeding difficulties. Communication and mealtime practices are a part of everyday life and are strongly linked to a sense of identity, culture and connection with others. Every time we express thoughts, say something to a loved one, or eat with our families, we rely on these abilities to talk, understand others and eat. These are the functions that speech pathologists enable for individuals who need additional support in these areas.
So why study Speech Pathology at University? By pursuing this field, you will work towards improving the quality of life of children and adults whilst learning fascinating topics such as anatomy, linguistics, and child development. Keep reading to find out some key reasons why studying speech pathology could be the perfect career choice for you!
What is Speech Pathology?
Working as a speech pathologist can look very different depending on where and who you work with. It could be helping someone with a disability to use an alternative form of communication, or providing communication therapy to a patient in hospital recovering from brain injury, or even giving voice recommendations to a teacher who is losing their voice – the list goes on and on. Speech pathologists work with individuals across the lifespan and work in many different settings including; hospitals, schools, private practices, and the justice system, to name a few.
As well as providing therapy, a speech pathologist can diagnose a range of different communication and swallowing difficulties through administering various assessments. When working with children, this could be a Speech Sound Disorder, a Phonological Delay, or Developmental Language Disorder. We can also diagnose stutters, voice disorders, and social communication difficulties, such as challenges with understanding and using language in social settings. In practicing with adults, speech pathologists often assess and diagnose conditions like aphasia, dysarthria, and cognitive-communication disorders, typically following a stroke or brain injury.
Reasons to Study Speech Pathology
Making a Difference in Peopleās Lives
Speech pathology is an incredibly rewarding career that allows you to make a significant impact on peopleās lives, helping them overcome barriers and reconnect with their world. Underpinning the Speech Pathology profession is Article 19 of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights that states ācommunication is everyone’s rightā (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1984). This belief drives speech pathologists in the work they do, and makes for a highly rewarding and important profession. By advocating for this right, you can help someone feel empowered and motivated within their lives to express themselves, build meaningful relationships, improve skills relating to schooling, and participate in many other activities involving communication and mealtime practices.
Employment growth is predicted to increase by 35% from 2023 to 2026 for speech pathologists
High Demand and Job StabilityĀ
For so many university degrees itās hard to envision what you could be doing after you graduate, or where you might get a job. Fortunately with speech pathology there is a clear career path, and many opportunities . Speech pathology is a relatively young profession with so much projection to grow as research continues within the field. This, and the growing demand for speech pathology in Australia means that therapists are highly sought after. In fact, employment growth was predicted to increase by 35% from 2023 to 2026 for speech pathologists (Australian Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023). Working under the professional umbrella of Speech Pathology Australia allows you to work all across the country and even to become accredited to work overseas in countries such as England, Canada, New Zealand and America.Ā
Combining Science and Creativity
Speech pathologists use a scientific and clinical understanding of the brain, language development, and speech disorders, while also incorporating holistic insights to support emotional well-being and participation within the community. With these different approaches and perspectives, they design personalised treatment plans and sessions to help support clients – which in many cases involves a lot of creativity. When working with children for example, play is incorporated within a session to make it fun, age appropriate and engaging. Things like bubbles, games and puppets are often used which means the speech pathologists get to have a bit of fun too!Ā
Diverse Career OpportunitiesĀ
Speech Pathology is a broad profession with many different career opportunities and options. Working within a school for example, is a contrasting work environment to a hospital. If you’re unsure about whether you would prefer working with children or adults you can gain experience in both by studying speech pathology which includes these two populations. As well as diverse work settings and age groups, speech pathology can involve many practice areas with the same job. If you’re someone who would enjoy working on things like language skills, speech sounds, voice, fluency, or social skills, then speech pathology is for you.Ā
What to Expect in a Speech Pathology Degree
A university degree in speech pathology covers a wide range of topics to prepare students for helping people with speech, language, and swallowing difficulties. Students learn about the structure of the head and neck and how the brain controls speech. They study how speech and language develop and the sounds that make up words. The program also covers disorders like trouble speaking or understanding language, cognitive issues, and swallowing problems. Students are taught how to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and use research-based, personalized care to help clients effectively.
ConclusionĀ
Studying Speech Pathology offers an amazing opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Whether you’re drawn to the diverse career choices, working with children, or the combining science and creativity in our work, this field provides a fulfilling and impactful career that makes a real difference in peoples lives.Ā
Looking for speech therapy support? If you are seeking support for yourself or your child rather than information about studying, explore our speech therapy services in Adelaide.
Written by
Esther Lange
Esther is a dedicated speech pathologist who enjoys working with children; in her spare time, she loves taking walks with her dog Wolfgang and indulging in chocolate treats.
