Wide array of paths for professionals in this area
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Working as a speech-language pathologist is much more than helping young children overcome lisps and say the letter “r.”
Alyssa Kamide said that in her role as a speech-language pathologist with Finger Lakes Health, she may help patients assess and improve swallowing safety, assist stroke patients with aphasia and provide strategies for people with cognitive impairment that can improve executive function for better home safety.
“I happened upon the field while already in college,” Kamide recalled. “I was on track to become a chemical engineer. Once I experienced the introductory course, I fell in love with being in the medical field in a way that most people don’t. I found this outlet as a way to be in the medical field in a different role. There is a lot of opportunities for this work, from birth to death in many areas of expertise.”
She enjoys watching patients hope in the face of loss of function — and feel victorious as they regain function that they’d lost. Kamide also likes that each day is different, presenting new challenges in how to meet patients’ needs in unique ways that work for them.
“Every day is a surprise and it keeps me on my toes,” she said. “I meet all sorts of patients and customize their care based on them as an individual.”
Speech-language pathologists don’t work just at hospitals. Suzanne E. Johnston, speech-language pathologist and owner of Speech & Communication Services in Rochester, said that demand is high for “speech language pathologists in various sections of our community, such as in nursing homes, schools, early intervention programs and universities. There is a lot of demand and growth, especially as our population grows older.”
People who have experienced strokes, head injuries and other health-related problems often need speech language pathologists. In fact, half of Johnston’s caseload is adults.
“It’s a very flexible career; you can work with so many different populations in so many contexts,” Johnston added.
The career requires a master’s degree and professional board certification.
Johnston enjoys her private practice. Working as a speech-language pathologist “offers people hope,” Johnston said. “I have a little rock on my windowsill that’s carved into the word ‘hope’ and that is something I can help families and patients in terms of their recovery or at least in the management of their challenges. I think that’s a gift.”
She encourages anyone interested in speech-language pathology to consider whether they enjoy working with people, since much of the work is one-on-one and for extended periods of time. Providers and patients develop a more long-term relationship than primary care providers who may see a patient for 15 minutes once a year.
“It’s the kind of job where you’re always doing something different,” Johnston said. “I’ve appreciated the opportunity to have a private practice and have the freedom to do that.”
Salary
A speech language pathologist in the Rochester area makes an annual mean salary of $77,360, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.