Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are experts in communication who work with people of all ages, from babies to adults, to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. They work in many different research, education, and healthcare settings with varying roles, levels of responsibility, and client populations. Some of the responsibilities of SLPs include:

• Evaluating a persons communication or swallowing abilities
• Diagnosing underlying problems
• Developing a personal treatment plan
• Providing therapy
• Maintaining records to track a persons progress

SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing problems, including problems with speech sounds, language, literacy, voice, and cognitive-communication disorders. They work in schools, private practice, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and other settings. To become an SLP, one must earn a masters degree in speech-language pathology, complete the required clinical experiences, and pass a national examination. All states require that speech-language pathologists be licensed, and licensure requirements vary by state but typically include clinical experience and passing an exam. The profession is growing rapidly due to the increasing demand in healthcare and private practice settings, growth in elementary- and secondary-school enrollments, and the rapid increase in aging populations.