Purpose of Position:
Performs complex activity in the performance, administration and supervision of diagnostic, habilitative and rehabilitative services to patients with speech and language impairments in order to assist them towards the attainment of greater effectiveness in the process of communication by addressing communicative disorders indicated by impaired voice, language or speech, and ameliorating the emotional and psychological adjustment to such disorders; performs related work.
Example of typical tasks:
Under general supervision, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, performs the following tasks:
1. Identifies patients with speech, language and related disorders, upon medical referral, and determines etiology, history and severity of specific disorders through interviewing and testing techniques.
2. Assesses, evaluates, analyzes and treats communicative and other problems resulting from speech, language and related disorders and the diseases or traumas which caused them.
3. Investigates and studies the underlying causes, precipitating factors, symptomatic behavior and emotional effects as well as the functional impact of speech and language disorders upon the patient.
4. Plans programs designed to restore or improve the communicative ability of patients with physiogenic, neurogenic or psychogenic speech and language disorders in order to produce, improve or restore appropriate communication skills.
5. Treats speech, language and related disorders such as aphasia, dysarthria, phonological defect, language delay, stuttering and voice disorders including laryngectomy, disorders affecting the geriatric population, and those secondary to traumatic injury.
6. Consults with other health care professionals when necessary to determine the need for referrals to specialists in medicine, dentistry, education, psychology, social work or other related areas.
7. Attends evaluation conferences and rounds to discern the progress and prognosis of patients under treatment.
8. Schedules examinations and treatment, prepares case histories and summaries, and reports on the therapeutic progress and goals of patients under treatment.
9. Counsels patients and/or families in their adjustment to speech, language and/or related impairments.
10. Counsels pre-operative or post-operative patients to prepare them for appropriate post-operative treatment.
11. Keeps abreast of the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with speech disorders.
12. Checks equipment periodically to ensure proper functioning and calibration.
13. Performs related duties.
