speech and language therapist

Speech and language therapists focus on the aetiology, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of communication and swallowing disorders in people of all ages in order to help them maintain, promote, improve, initiate, or recover the ability to communicate both verbally and nonverbally. They address the development of language, speech, vocal and hearing functions, and disorders and disabilities in the cranial, facial, and oral area.

Alternative Labels

language therapist

language therapy practitioner

logopaedics therapist

logopaedist

paediatric speech and language therapist

paediatric speech therapist

practitioner in speech and language therapy

psychomotor specialist

specialist speech and language therapist

speech-language pathologist

speech pathologist

speech therapist

speech therapy practitioner

Regulatory Aspect

To see if and how this occupation is regulated in EU Member States, EEA countries or Switzerland please consult the Regulated Professions Database of the Commission. Regulated Professions Database:

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/services/free-movement-professionals/qualifications-recognition_en

Skills & Competences

Essential Skills and Competences

accept own accountability adhere to organisational guidelines advise on healthcare users' informed consent apply context specific clinical competences apply organisational techniques communicate in healthcare comply with legislation related to health care comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice conduct research on speech-related topics contribute to continuity of health care counsel on communication disorders counsel patients on improving speech deal with emergency care situations develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship diagnose speech disorders educate on the prevention of illness empathise with the healthcare user encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring ensure safety of healthcare users evaluate the psychological impact of speech problems exercise patience follow clinical guidelines formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy inform policy makers on health-related challenges interact with healthcare users listen actively manage healthcare users' data manage the neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke monitor patients' progress related to treatment organise relapse prevention perform therapy sessions promote good habits to avoid communication disorders promote inclusion provide health education record healthcare users' progress related to treatment respond to changing situations in health care teach communication methods treat speech disorders treat swallowing disorders use e-health and mobile health technologies use techniques to increase patients' motivation work in a multicultural environment in health care work in multidisciplinary health teams

Essential Knowledge

audiology audiometry behavioural neurology facial gymnastics first aid health care legislation health care occupation-specific ethics hearing loss human anatomy human physiology hygiene in a health care setting linguistics lip reading logopaedics medical informatics medical terminology movement techniques neurology neuropsychology otorhinolaryngologic conditions paediatrics pathology phonetics phoniatrics professional documentation in health care psychiatry psychology sign language special needs education speech techniques

Optional Skills and Competences

conduct polysomnography interpret diagnostic tests in otorhinolaryngology provide stroke rehabilitation services refer healthcare users supervise speech and language team undertake clinical audit use foreign languages for health-related research use foreign languages in patient care

Optional Knowledge

autism bobath therapy cued speech pedagogy psychoacoustics psycholinguistics

Skills & Competences

Concept URI

Concept Uri

http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/8021f3a2-e3de-43c0-b366-075da74dc5b7

Status

released

Occupations