Essential Abilities for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Listed below are the essential abilities that someone who enters the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology must possess and therefore are required of undergraduate students majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
Physical Abilities
- Participate in classroom or clinical activities for 2-4 hour blocks of time with one or two breaks
- Move independently to, from and within academic/clinical facilities
- Provide for or direct one’s own personal hygiene
- Manipulate screening/diagnostic/therapeutic/educational materials
- Respond to emergency situations including fire, choking and in the application of universal precautions
- Visually monitor client responses and use of materials
- Auditorily monitor and orally model correct speech and language production
Interpersonal Abilities
- Work effectively with people
- Make appropriate decisions, including the ability to evaluate and generalize appropriately without immediate supervision
- Understand and respect authority
- Maintain appropriate work place behavior, including punctuality and regular attendance
- Maintain composure in demanding situations
- Complete responsibilities promptly and according to instructions
- Maintain appropriate relationships with clients, students, instructors/supervisors, and colleagues
- Communicate effectively with people in person, by telephone, and in written form by considering the communication needs and cultural values of the listener
Speech/Language and Cognitive Abilities
- Comprehend and read professional literature/reports
- Write university level papers and clinical/educational reports in Standard American English
- Speak Standard American English intelligibly, including the ability to model English phonemes, grammatical features, or other aspects of speech and language
- Independently analyze, synthesize, interpret ideas and concepts in academic and clinical settings
- Maintain attention and concentration for sufficient time to complete academic/clinical activities: typically 2-4 hours with 1-2 breaks
- Schedule and prioritize activities, and provide documentation in a timely manner
- Comply with administrative, legal and regulatory policies as well as rules and instructions of faculty/staff within the Speech, language and Hearing Sciences program and in off-campus practicum and externship sites at the graduate level.