Speech and Language Therapist

Also known as:

Therapist, Speech and Language

Introduction

Speech and language therapists help people to minimise or overcome impaired speech, voice, language or swallowing difficulties. Much of their time is spent working with children. Progress can be slow in helping patients to develop.

Back to Top

Work Activities

Speech and language therapists help people to minimise or overcome impaired speech, voice, language or swallowing difficulties. On meeting a new patient, the speech and language therapist establishes a friendly, trusting relationship so that the problem may be readily diagnosed and assessed.

The plan of treatment must be both effective in improving the condition and interesting enough to keep the client's attention. Work with children, in particular, requires the therapist to devise imaginative and varied exercises.

Clients are usually seen on a one-to-one basis, although the therapist may decide that group sessions are beneficial to some. Progress can be very slow and patients may be treated for several years. Full recovery may not always be possible and the therapist must be able to cope with the frustration and disappointment this can cause.

Children form a large part of the speech and language therapist's client group. Speech difficulties often have profound social, psychological and educational implications that may be minimised by early treatment. Young people may need help with speech difficulties ranging from stammering to mispronunciation - the kinds of problem that lead them to withdraw from social situations.

Adults usually have speech difficulties as a result of accidents or illnesses such as strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or cancer. Speech and language therapists may also help people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

They may have to travel throughout the local area.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

You will need patience and self-confidence, along with the ability to encourage, understand and inspire. You will be free to plan your work and determine your own methods, so initiative and organisational skills are essential.

You need to be an effective communicator and have a good command of written English. Excellent hearing and clear, accurate speech is vital.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

In the NHS, speech and language therapists (SLTs) start on Band 5 of Agenda for Change pay scales. From April 1, 2008 this scale has been £20,225 - £26,123 a year. Specialist SLTs are on Band 6 which is £24,103 - £32,653. Those with management responsibilities, on Band 7, can earn up to £38,352 a year.

At the highest levels, SLT consultants can earn up to £64,118 a year, depending on responsibilities.

Speech therapists in the NHS usually work 35-36.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. There may be opportunities for part-time work.

Most speech and language therapists are employed in the NHS, although some work in education and private practice.

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have relevant experience, eg, of working with:

• children
• older adults
• those with voice impairment or hearing loss
• people with disabilities.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter an accredited degree, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, eg, Access to Science.

You don't usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider.

You can enter speech therapy degrees if you are a graduate with a background in psychology, linguistics or a related subject.

Graduates can also train through a two-year accredited postgraduate course. You will usually need a relevant first degree for entry, for example, in a biological science, psychology or linguistics.

• 58% of speech and language therapists work part-time.
• 13% have flexible hours.

Back to Top