3 Skills to Future-Proof Your Career as a Speech and Language Expert

Speech and language have been integral to the human experience since time immemorial. Our speech can express deep-felt desires and anxieties, bringing people together. Naturally, experts who assist children and adults facing speech disorders have long been in demand.

However, this sector is going through a turbulent period due to the advent of artificial intelligence and related technologies. Increasingly, people are turning to machine versions of therapists and pathologists for diagnosis and treatment. These alternatives are often more affordable. Therefore, they improve access for those who cannot afford conventional therapy.

Where does that leave professionals who undergo years of training in speech and language issues? A study published in Communications Psychology found that AI can be more compassionate than human experts in tackling mental health issues. It could be because AI is capable of remaining objective. It is also not vulnerable to fatigue and burnout.

It follows that experts across human-centric sectors can benefit from advanced skills that make them future-ready in a changing world.

1. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

One therapeutic area that benefits immensely from human input is supporting clients with limited verbal ability. 

Speech pathologists typically aim to determine the cause of the problem and design treatment plans. Conventional approaches can usually handle articulation and fluency issues. However, they may not apply in the case of missing verbal ability. These clients will need support in replacing or augmenting spoken language with alternatives. 

In these scenarios, a professional may consider aids, such as touchpads or computers. Some clients may need to learn sign language, like communicating through hand gestures and eye blinking. 

Building and understanding the conceptual framework around these interventions is crucial for sustainable support. A Frontiers study observes the need to assess the child’s barriers to communication. Accordingly, one can also rectify discouraging attitudes around them. 

Undergoing training in this area can help speech pathologists make a concrete difference in pre-K schools and residential care environments. 

It can also advance one’s career prospects, opening new avenues and opportunities. A 2024 speech-language pathologist salary guide suggests that professionals can earn over $95,000 annually. It is much higher than the median salary across other occupations. Those with higher experience and more responsibilities, like supervision and patient care, can earn more.

The good news is that professionals seeking to upskill can now opt for online and part-time programs. They let them continue working alongside. According to Ithaca College, courses that cover AAC and diverse subjects, like adult aphasia, can prepare students for career success. Institutes with a strong regional reputation also make clinical placements more accessible.

2. Integrating Technology into Therapy

How should you deal with an emerging threat constructively? In many situations, the best approach is to embrace it. More speech and language professionals are learning to coexist with technology. In fact, they are adopting it to better their practice.

For instance, telehealth services are gaining popularity in our connected world. They help people access speech therapy remotely, avoiding the hassle of commuting to faraway locations. This route can be helpful for those facing speech problems after a serious health issue, such as a stroke.

A Cleveland Clinic patient’s story reveals how telehealth can improve access to healthcare and therapy. Its primary benefits include allowing practitioners to see their patients more often and for longer sessions. Moreover, most insurance providers should cover virtual health services just as physical ones.

Learning to utilize Gen AI tools and apps to improve speech pathology sessions is another impactful skill professionals can consider. Some companies are exploring ChatGPT to help people with aphasia interact effectively. For example, it can help generate thoughtful responses based on prompts. It can also make social media posts more meaningful.

As responsible and open-minded professionals, it will be critical to weigh the benefits of these solutions. At the same time, one must beware of inherent algorithmic biases.

3. Research-Oriented Mindset for Developmental Issues

Some speech and language problems occur later in life as a result of external injury or health crises. However, others like developmental language disorder (DLD) can show up in early childhood. This communication disorder can impact overall school performance. However, it is outside the ambit of autism or learning disabilities. 

Developing supportive solutions for this condition mandates research. It also requires a willingness to uncover causative factors. Professionals who learn to participate in research can make a positive societal impact. They can also witness career growth.

A potential area of research is the impact of socioeconomic disparities on developmental speech disorders. The NIH notes that experts are working toward improving diagnosis for culturally diverse children. It also highlights other areas for research. These include planning instructional sessions and providing help to parents in supporting language growth.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) enlists several areas that can benefit from advanced research. They range from selective mutism to voice disorders. These issues affect considerable portions of the population but have limited treatment plans.

The aforementioned skills can help you make headway in your career as a speech and language professional. They gradually pave the path for future growth. 

You can consider upskilling through online courses and industry seminars, although a Master’s may offer the best credibility. Many institutions are now more open to flexible work arrangements for professionals desiring further training.

Continuous learning is something AI is also good at. It won’t do for human experts to be averse to it.