Theresa Richard M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S - medslpcollective.com The Roles and Responsibilities of your Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Theresa Richard M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S - medslpcollective.com

Did You Know? A Speech-Language Pathologist has to: Complete 400+ hours of graduate clinical work Pass comprehensive examinations and the Praxis examination Earn a Master’s Degree Then complete a supervised clinical fellowship year All before becoming fully certified!

So You Teach People To Talk? Yes, we do. But we also do a whole lot more! Our field is diverse and continually growing!

More Than Just Talking…. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) says: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Source: https://www.asha.org/Students/Speech-Language-Pathology/

The “Big 9” Our scope of practice falls into 9 major categories: Source: https://www.asha.org/policy/SP2016-00343/#Domains Speech Language Hearing Swallowing Cognition Voice Social Pragmatics Fluency AAC

But Wait, There’s More… Speech-Language Pathologists also engage in: Advocacy and outreach Research Supervision Collaboration Education Counseling Administration/leadership Prevention & Wellness Source: https://www.asha.org/policy/SP2016-00343/#Domains

The SLP’s Role in Health Care Settings In hospitals and long-term care facilities, Speech- Language Pathologists are a vital part of the interdisciplinary care team. However, many people still don’t know what we do.

The SLP’s Role in Health Care Settings SLP’s Role in Swallowing (Dysphagia): Screen at-risk patients Complete clinical swallow assessments Refer for or perform instrumental assessment (MBSS/FEES) Complete swallow therapy Educate the patient and caregivers Work with nursing, CNA’s, and other relevant staff members to improve outcomes and carryover of skills Make appropriate physician referrals if necessary

The SLP’s Role in Health Care Settings SLP’s Role in Language (Aphasia), Motor Speech (Dysarthria), and Cognition: Screen at-risk patients Complete appropriate assessments Initiate appropriate and functional therapy exercises/activities Educate the patient and caregivers Work with nursing, CNA’s, and other relevant staff members to improve outcomes and carryover of skills Make appropriate physician referrals if necessary

The SLP’s Role in Health Care Settings SLP’s Role with Tracheostomy Patients: Facilitate use of speaking valves Assess/treat speech and swallowing skills Engage in interdisciplinary consultation to problem- solve and facilitate trach weaning

The SLP’s Role in Health Care Settings SLP’s Role (miscellaneous): Communicate diet recommendations to the registered dietician and kitchen staff Participate on interdisciplinary teams to identify patients who need ST intervention as early as possible Attend care plan meetings Conduct staff education and in-services (like this!)

Now Let’s Talk About YOU! How can you help me help you (and our patients)?

When to Refer To Your SLP If you see the following, refer to your SLP: Difficulty chewing or pocketing food Coughing with PO intake Decreased PO intake Significant unwanted weight loss Trouble taking pills Wet/gurgly voice quality with meals Reduced vocal quality/vocal loudness https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/

When to Refer To Your SLP If you see the following, refer to your SLP: Increased confusion Decreased speech output Slurred speech Multiple falls due to unsafe behaviors Difficulty recalling safety strategies Difficulty recalling names of people or things https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/

When to Refer To Your SLP If you see the following, refer to your SLP: Difficulty understanding directions Decreased awareness of difficulties Difficulty paying attention while speaking Garbled speech that doesn’t make sense Difficulty with remembering the steps of activities of daily living https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/

When In Doubt, Refer it Out (To Us)! We would rather screen someone and find them to be ok than not screen and miss that patient! Please feel free to tell us about your concerns about your patients!

We Can’t Do Our Job Without YOU!!! Seriously. We can’t. Thank you for being awesome!

Questions???

Source: https://www.asha.org/Students/Speech-Language-Pathology/ References: American Speech Language Hearing Association. (n.d.). Learn About the CSD Professions: Speech-Language Pathology. Retrieved July 30, 2018 from https://www.asha.org/Students/Speech-Language- Pathology/ American Speech Language Hearing Association. (n.d.). Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Retrieved July 30, 2018 from https://www.asha.org/policy/SP2016-00343/#Domains American Speech Language Hearing Association. (n.d.). Clinical Topics and Disorders in Speech-Language Pathology. Retrieved July 30, 2018 from https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/