The Professions

Who are speech-language pathologists (SLP’s)?
Speech-language pathologists are professionals trained to assess, diagnose, and treat the problems of individuals with communication, cognitive and swallowing impairments.
Who are audiologists?
Professionals who specialize in normal and impaired hearing, prevention of hearing loss, identification and assessment of hearing and balance problems, and rehabilitation of persons with hearing and balance disorders. (ASHA.org)
What is required to become a speech-language pathologist?
To become an SLP requires a master’s degree and earning the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and/or a state license. Requirements for the CCC are a graduate degree from an accredited university, four hundred hours of supervised clinical experience, completion of a 36 week postgraduate clinical fellowship, and satisfactory performance on the Praxis Series examination in speech-language pathology.
What is required to become an audiologist?
Preparation to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology requires a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral) from an accredited university which should include a 12 month full time equivalent of supervised clinical practicum (1,820 clock hours) and a minimum of 75 post baccalaureate semester credit hours. Completion of a post graduate clinical fellowship and satisfactory performance on the Praxis Series examination in audiology.
Where do speech-language pathologists work?
The majority of SLP’s provide direct clinical services in educational settings; others work in health care settings such as hospitals, and rehabilitation settings. Speech language pathologists also are employed in preschools and child care centers, residential nursing care facilities, adult day care centers, community clinics, government agencies, industry, or private practices. SLP’s may also work in primarily research settings.
Where do audiologists work?
Audiologists are employed in hospitals, physician’s offices, community clinics, industries with hearing conservation programs, schools, rehabilitation centers and other health care facilities, speech and hearing centers, health departments, private practices or government agencies.
What are the employment opportunities?
As the society ages, more members of the profession will be needed to provide services to the growing geriatric population. In addition, federal law guarantees services to children with disabilities. The long term demand for SLP’s should continue to grow as the number of individuals with communication disabilities increases. In 2009 the median salary for speech-language pathologists was $63,111 (http://swz.salary.com).
According to a 2008 survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the median salary for full time audiologists is $ 32.18 an hour.
The aging population in addition to increasing survival rates for both stroke victims and premature infants increase the number of positions for audiologists in the near future. Early identification through newborn hearing screenings, which are required in most states also continue to increase the need for audiologists.
Who are speech, language and hearing scientists?
Speech, language and hearing scientists develop, explore and enhance the knowledge base in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Working primarily in universities and research institutes, these professionals investigate the processes underlying normal communication, the efficacy of current and future professional practices in the field and technologies that supplement the assessment and treatment protocols in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Adapted from www.ASHA.org