Audrey:
I always look forward to people asking what I do for work, because most people don’t know what it is Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) actually do. I often receive confused looks or questions such as, “Ohhhhh. . . So what does that mean?” or, “Oh, so you help kids who have lisps!” I then smile and launch into my elevator speech, which I adjust depending on the number of floors the person is willing to ride in the conversational elevator with me.
The fact is, we do SO much more than just “speech,” though that is certainly a part of what we do.
We aren’t just “speech therapists,” we are also cognitive therapists, language therapists, literacy therapists, social skills therapists, feeding therapists, and voice therapists- to name a few! I often tell people that SLPs are like a jack of all trades when it comes to anything that involves the chest up- not just the mouth. Speech-language pathology is such a rich and exciting field! Many SLPs will tell you that we never have a dull moment, and we love what we do. We study and explore the seen and unseen, we dive deep into the depths of adult brains who have difficulty finding words, we launch into the larynges of those who have voice disorders, we look at the lips of little ones who haven’t yet learned their sounds. However, what really makes this field the most exciting, is the connections we make with our patients and their families. We love you. We share in your triumphs and struggles, and we want you to live your best life possible.
When you see your child make that sound for the first time, when you find the words you couldn’t 6 months ago, when you improve in your ability to communicate and connect with those around you- that is what is the most exciting of all. And that is why when people ask me what I do, my first thought is always, “The best job in the world.”
If you would like to meet one of our amazing speech therapists and ask them some questions, don't hesitate to call us at 253.237.3405 to schedule a discovery visit, or to just express a concern. We would love to meet you!