A speech pathologist (SP) is a professional who diagnoses, treats and helps manage a wide range of conditions, most often those with a speech disorder or language impairment. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the body’s voice, language, and speaking parts. They treat patients of all ages, and their patients must have been diagnosed with a speech or language disorder at some point. Speech pathologists treat the most common conditions are articulation disorders, swallowing disorders, hoarseness or narrowing of the larynx, and physical conditions that contribute to speech problems.

Treating Swallowing Disorders Another specialty area of speech pathologist SA work involves treating swallowing disorders. Swallowing disorders can affect anyone, with the most common types being adenoids, uvula, and tonsils. Swallowers can treat these disorders using one or more techniques, such as ultrasonic-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (USP), balloon catheterization, retrobulbar placement, etc. Children who have Speech-Language Pathology or swallowing problems may require special needs treatment, including speech evaluation, child audiometry, or surgical treatment.

IEP – Interventional Procedures Other than diagnosing and treating patients with speech pathology and swallowing disorders, speech pathologists perform other types of procedures to help those with hearing or speech issues. IEP usually involves a speech pathologist helping the patient plan and conduct an IEP. IEPs usually use ICD Ives, which are more advanced than standard IEPs. IEPs can include digital hearing aids, ICD ear tubes, or binaural solutions.

The most obvious reason to visit a speech pathologist is for speech therapy treatment. Most speech pathology and swallowing disorders can be addressed using speech therapy techniques. However, sometimes oral conditions require additional testing, such as ICD IVE. In addition, even when oral conditions are treated successfully, people may still experience symptoms. For these reasons, many people visit speech pathologist to address their oral health concerns. If you are concerned about your oral health or suspect you might have a speech disorder, seeing a speech pathologist is a good idea.

In general, IEPs provide much better results than standard speech therapies. Most speech therapies target articulation issues, but not everyone with a speech problem will benefit from therapy based on articulation issues. Some people do very well with speech-language pathologists, while others have poor experiences. It makes selecting a speech therapy provider important since some speech-language pathologists might not be the best choice for people with specific swallowing problems.

Even though speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists primarily perform speech pathology, many states require that their therapists receive specialized education and certification. In most states, you will need to obtain an SLP license, which is a license to perform speech therapy. Once you have earned your SLP license, you must pass the state’s certification examination or a similar exam. The requirements for obtaining an SLP license vary by state. However, an SLP must be registered under the National Health Service Corps Registration and Qualifications Board (NHSC QR) to practice in most states.

In some studies, cleft palate and other speech disorders are associated with children’s more severe intellectual and emotional difficulties. Although most speech pathologists can treat these difficulties with hearing aids and speech therapy, sometimes additional procedures are needed. Some of the most common additional procedures done with speech pathologists involve plastic surgery, otoplasty (ear surgery), ear pinning, and lipectomy (lip surgery). If you feel you may need additional services, it may be wise to check with your doctor first.