Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

Overview

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Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.

Assist speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. Implement speech and language programs or activities as planned and directed by speech-language pathologists. Monitor the use of alternative communication devices and systems.

Yearly Salary

High: $61K
Median: $39K
Low: $24K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.
  • Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
  • Collect and compile data to document clients' performance or assess program quality.
  • Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
  • Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.
  • Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.
  • Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.
  • Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information.
  • Test or maintain equipment to ensure correct performance.
  • Conduct in-service training sessions, or family and community education programs.
  • Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of speech-language research projects.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Analytical or scientific software
Speech analysis software
Electronic mail software
Email software
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Medical software
Propeller Multimedia React2
Music or sound editing software
Adobe Audition
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Text to speech conversion software
Text to speech software
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Personal computers
Consumer electronics
Compact disk CD players
Developmental and professional teaching aids and materials and accessories and supplies
Speech therapy mirrors
Independent living aids for the physically challenged
Communications boards
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Airflow measurement devices
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Copy machines
Patient exam and monitoring products
Digital audiometers
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Digital still cameras
Security surveillance and detection
Closed circuit television CCTV surveillance systems

Top 10 Knowledge Required

English Language
91%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Education and Training
83%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Therapy and Counseling
74%
Importance

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Psychology
73%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Administrative
68%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Customer and Personal Service
68%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics
56%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Sociology and Anthropology
52%
Importance

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

Administration and Management
48%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Communications and Media
48%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Top 10 Skills

Active Listening
80%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension
75%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Speaking
75%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness
70%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring
68%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Service Orientation
68%
Importance

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Complex Problem Solving
65%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Active Learning
63%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking
63%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
63%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity
80%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
80%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
78%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Information Ordering
73%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Problem Sensitivity
73%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning
70%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
70%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Top 10 Work Activities

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
92%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information
89%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
85%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Documenting/Recording Information
84%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
81%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
81%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Assisting and Caring for Others
80%
Importance

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Thinking Creatively
79%
Importance

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
78%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
75%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Maintain medical records.
  • Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.
  • Prepare medical reports or documents.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Perform clerical work in medical settings.
  • Develop patient therapy programs.
  • Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.
  • Monitor medical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
  • Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
  • Assist engineers or scientists with research.

Education

Interests

Social
79%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Conventional
69%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative
63%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Artistic
41%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Realistic
33%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Enterprising
22%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Work Values

Relationships
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
60%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Independence
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.