Speech therapy can bring great benefit to children and adults with communication disorders, but finding the appropriate therapist is key to ensure you or a loved one receives top care.
Unemployment does not discourage speech therapists and audiologists from continuing in their chosen profession, however; many remain dedicated to it despite difficulties associated with finding work. This study explores their experiences and perceptions regarding efforts made by universities and professional boards to create job opportunities.
Voiceover and Accent Coaching
Voice and accent coaching has become an increasingly popular alternative career path for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). SLPs working as voice coaches for professional actors, broadcasters, voiceover artists or voiceover artists allows them to showcase their talents outside of clinical environments while expanding their influence beyond clinical environments.
Vocal coaches also aid singers, teachers and executives improve their vocal technique to avoid injuries. Nicole Spruill is an SLP who owns her own vocal coaching practice; among her clientele are pastors, cheerleaders and public speakers who often experience vocal nodules; she helps these individuals heal by teaching them how to properly use their voices so as not to incur further damage.
Salespeople rely on having a powerful voice that exudes confidence and persuasion to increase sales, and customer service roles rely heavily on clear communications styles that ensure customers feel valued and understood by service personnel. An accent coach can teach call center employees how to control tone, reduce speech friction, and adapt delivery for different audiences or situations.
SLPs who wish to extend their skills beyond traditional clinical settings may consider speech-language pathology jobs focused on technology and voice-activated tools, including computers, mobile apps, or other voice-generating devices. Such positions typically involve instructing patients or families how best to utilize such devices as microphones.
As our world becomes more digital, speech-language pathologists with technical skills are in increasing demand. These professionals can have a profound effect by developing innovative software or other technologies to aid individuals with their daily communication needs.
Speech-language pathology continues to expand, providing opportunities for speech therapists outside the traditional clinical setting to discover rewarding SLP careers outside of clinical environments. By expanding their reach and making positive impacts in society, these SLPs may find fulfillment in their careers.
Are You Looking to Begin an Alternate Career in Speech-Language Pathology? Reach Out USAHS now for information on their Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program located in San Marcos, California; St Augustine Florida and Austin Texas! This flexible program will equip you with all of the skills and credentials to advance your career and improve the lives of others.
Corporate Communication Specialist
Corporate communication specialists (SLPs) specialize in overseeing their employer’s public image and internal communications, serving as the liaison between their organization and its stakeholders by crafting compelling narratives aligning with strategic brand goals. Their duties span departments and mediums such as press releases, internal newsletters, speeches and social media posts.
Similar to voice coaches, executive voice trainers train executives on how to use their voices more efficiently by addressing vocal misuse and developing social skills. Furthermore, these coaches help executives reduce accents and adapt regional dialects so they are more relatable for customers and coworkers.
Traveling speech language pathologists (SLPs) take on temporary assignments in various clinical settings worldwide. Staffing agencies usually arrange contracts at hospitals, schools and other facilities that need SLPs on an interim basis – this career option provides relief to SLPs who are burned out from direct patient care but still want a rewarding challenge! While traveling SLPs require considerable flexibility from them as this career requires, it can also prove very rewarding!
Sports Communication Specialist
SLPs who prefer not to work in clinical settings may find there are speech therapy alternative careers with plenty of opportunities. SLPs who specialize in sports communication may focus on verbal and nonverbal interactions between team members (players, coaches, trainers), fans, media members, researchers/teachers as well as examining how sports is presented through media representations. Traveling SLPs may work for therapy/medical staffing agencies providing temporary assignments in various clinical settings both nationally and internationally.
Traveling SLP
Travel speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are temporary clinicians that are employed at different clinical sites throughout the U.S. They work for staffing agencies or sign contracts directly with facilities to fill gaps caused by unforeseeable events or temporary staff shortages, typically serving for 3–9 month assignments and providing speech therapy services to various age groups and settings.
SLPs who wish to combine their love of helping people and exploring with an adventurous spirit should consider taking on a school contract travel speech-language pathology position, commonly referred to as travel SLP. This career option offers SLPs the chance to explore a variety of destinations while making a positive difference in children’s lives.
Schools provide SLPs with a more flexible schedule that enables them to pursue personal interests while on assignment. School contract travel SLPs, unlike clinical positions, are subcontracted by facilities and paid on a per diem basis; accordingly they must complete onboarding requirements such as drug screens, TB tests, vaccinations, physicals, respirator fit tests and online competency modules in order to be hired as contract SLPs.
Travel SLPs often engage in community outreach activities as an extra means of making an impactful statement about communication or swallowing disorders among local populations. Sometimes these community engagements take the form of education sessions on such issues.
On occasion, they may also be required to conduct educational seminars at local colleges and universities for future SLPs and SOTA students, informing them about current research trends and treatments.
Academic careers provide a natural progression for clinical SLPs who wish to move away from clinical work and focus on education and research. It allows SLPs to keep contributing towards furthering communication sciences – and help other SLPs do the same!
Rehab liaison positions offer SLPs who want to keep working within healthcare an opportunity for nonclinical work while remaining within it, without leaving their industry of origin altogether. Rehab liaisons work to coordinate with hospitals and other facilities to maintain census rates at adequate levels while using their marketing skills to do it – a role which may prove especially rewarding if sales and marketing is an area in which they excel.
