4/24/2015

Skills that would make you an ideal candidate to be a Speech Pathologist

If you are going to be a Speech Pathologist, some of the traits you have are given. Some can be acquired though.....

• To be a Speech Pathologist, you need to have top notch people skills, because that is all you will be working with.
• If you don't already have decent speech and pronunciation of things, that is something that you should work on. Practice what you preach!
• You have to adapt easily to new techniques and new technologies because it might be harder for your clients to progress if you do not. 
• Choose what area you work in wisely. If you are better with elders, you should probably work with stroke patients or with people that have had trauma.
• Work at the needs of your client. Tweek your teaching styles to your patient's needs.
• Decide what type of environment would suit you best. For some people, a hospital would be best. While for others, a school system might be where they progress the most.
• Have good patience. Work well with others. Some people take longer to learn than others, everyone and every case is different.

Lots of the new techniques and technologies for this career can be found on asha.org-it's updated regularly. You can also come up with your own things if that is what you can teach better with. Here are some apps that children might like if they have speech impediments:

http://www.smartappsforkids.com/2014/05/newly-updated-top-free-apps-for-language-therapy.html

"American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | ASHA." 24 Apr. 2015 <http://www.asha.org/>

"Newly updated! Top FREE apps for language therapy ..." 2014. 24 Apr. 2015 <http://www.smartappsforkids.com/2014/05/newly-updated-top-free-apps-for-language-therapy.html>

Video Blog

Current Research in the Speech Pathologist World

4/9/15

   Whenever I was searching for what topic I was going to have for this blog, something caught my eye. It was an article that was titled "Speech Requires Both Sides of the Brain." The reason why it caught my eye is because I am currently studying the development of the Neural System in my Child development course.

 

   I learned that within the first 3 months of pregnancy, you develop your hearing. A baby will react to a very loud noise. Month 8 is when you develop your major cortices, which are your senses.  Most of them are just muffled until then. I think it is unique that your speech is on both sides of your brain!

   I recently learned in class that your speech was only in your left frontal lobe. The split between your brain is called lateralization. Your left brain controls you speech and language controls while your right brain controls your colorization, spacial awareness, and rhythm. 

   Most left handed people have brains with the opposite functions. It is where your right brain controls your speech while your left brain controls your rhythm and colorization. 

 

"Left handed tour - Being left-handed - Left Handers Day." 2014. 10 Apr. 2015 <http://www.lefthandersday.com/tour/being-left-handed>

"Brain Hemispheres | Left & Right Hemispheres." 2011. 10 Apr. 2015 <http://www.thethinkingbusiness.com/brain_zone/brain-tour/brain-hemispheres>

"Speech and the Brain." 2007. 10 Apr. 2015 <http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/speechbrain.html>

ZERO TO THREE: Baby Brain Map." 2010. 10 Apr. 2015 <http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/brain-development/baby-brain-map.html>