What is a Speech-Language Pathologist Anyway?

NAN KENNELLY AND KITSY RADERMACHER

language pathologists work in many settings including universities, hospitals, nursing homes, private practice and schools. Even within a similar setting the service may vary, such as in a hospital or private practice. For instance, we both run private practices in Fargo, ND, but our areas of specialty and service differ greatly based on the populations that we serve. For example, a speech distortion can be related to language development or a neurological event such as a stroke. Cognition/thinking can be impaired with an attention disorder, or after a concussion or brain injury. Swallowing may be affected due to premature birth or neurological illness.

There may not be another field with a more confusing title than that of the speech-language pathologist. As members of this profession, we can assure you that we spend no small amount of time explaining the title. The broad scope of our practice often calls for clarification from clinicians. Consumers will explain the service with alternate titles such as: “speech teacher,” “speech therapist,” “cognitive therapist,” “voice therapist” or “swallow therapist.” These labels all fall under the same professional title of the speech-language pathologist with the same educational requirements, but the range of service delivery can vary greatly. We thought it would be helpful to clear up the burning question once and for all: What is a speech-language pathologist anyway?

For starters, the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA) defines the title as “a professional that works with a full range of human communication and its disorders.” We evaluate, diagnose and treat speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages from infants to elderly. A speechlanguage pathologist must have a masters or doctoral degree from an accredited academic program in order to practice, and most speech-language pathologists will also earn the internationally-recognized ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence (CCC).

To further answer this question, we often turn to areas of specialty. This has historically led to new titles (i.e. “speech teacher,” “cognitive therapist” etc.) and added to the confusion. Our field is vast and addresses needs across the human lifespan. Because of this, it is common to specialize in areas according to the setting and population we are serving. Speech-

With these examples, it is no wonder that the founders of our profession struggled to amply identify what we do by what we are called. Our variety and versatility answer a great need in both development and rehabilitation of communication and swallowing. It is estimated that 6-8 million people in the United States have some form of language impairment. Nearly 1.7 million people in the United States live with cognitive-communication impairment related to brain injury, and approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have a voice disorder. (Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). These statistics emphasize both the value and the breadth of our profession.

In summary, the field of speechlanguage pathology has an enormous scope of practice, often making it difficult to identify our work by our title. While we may go by alternate titles at times, all speech-language pathologists will all agree on one thing: communication is one of the most important aspects of life.

The following bullets highlight areas of difficulty that individuals would typically seek out a speechlanguage pathologist for help. Both of our practices address impairment in:

• Production of speech sounds (i.e. articulation, apraxia, dysarthria)

• Vocal quality (i.e. vocal nodules, nasality, vocal fold pathology)

• Reading and/or writing

• Cognition (i.e. attention, memory, problem-solving)

• Executive Functioning (i.e. planning, organizing, speed of thought)

• Speech and language rehabilitation (i.e. aphasia, apraxia)

• Feeding and swallowing difficulties. (i.e. dysphagia)

• Alternative communication devices

• Social communication (i.e. pragmatics)

• Accent modification

• Stuttering

If you have any questions or concerns in regard to a family member in the any one of these areas; we hope that you will feel free to email or contact either one of us. Katharine (Kitsy) Radermacher at Beyond Boundaries Therapy Services, Inc. www.beyondboundaries.us (701) 356-0062 or Nan Kennelly at Onword Therapy www.onwordtherapy.com (701) 364-5433.

Therapy Dolls Bring Gift of Healing

When going through a medical trauma, one of the best remedies available is the support and encouragement of faithful friends. If you’re a preschooler, that faithful friend may just be a therapy doll who looks a lot like you, and is able to experience all of the same treatments and procedures. For the past nine years, Sanford hospital’s pediatric unit has been able to give children going through complicated medical treatments just such a doll thanks to the talents and generosity of JoAnn Westerholm.

In 2003 JoAnn and her husband Duane were in the hospital while he was receiving therapy for a heart condition. While there, JoAnn inquired if there was a need for dolls for the children in the hospital. She eventually connected with a Child Life Specialist in the pediatrics unit, who was excited about the offer. Thus began a relationship that has spanned nearly ten years and the creation of over 210 dolls.

One look in JoAnn’s sewing room and you can see where the creativity gets its start. The room is lined with over 20 organized drawers of fabric, stuffing, patterns and notions and a well-used Janome 6500 sewing machine. Selecting from among 100 different patterns, JoAnn produces each doll with great care. Using sturdy cotton fabrics she begins making a body in skin tones that represent the various ethnic backgrounds of children. Next comes the hair made with yarn and fashioned in a wide range of styles, and then the hand-embroidered eyes and facial features. To be sure that the dolls are safe for heavy use, JoAnn double stitches every seam and double knots each strand of hair. “The pride she takes in her workmanship is evident in each stitch,” said Sanford Child Life Specialist Lorrie Ferguson. Finally, JoAnn makes each doll

JoAnn doesn’t generally meet the pediatric patients who receive her dolls, rather she delivers them to the Child Life Specialists who give them to patients they know will benefit from the gift. One such child was Brody Strahm. In July of 2009 as a 22-month-old little boy with a new 2-weekold baby sister at home, Brody became quite sick. He was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and entered the intensive care unit. Brody was very scared in the beginning and would cry inconsolably whenever a nurse or medical professional entered the room. As Kelsey, Brody’s mom, explained it, “For Brody, the gift of a therapy doll made a huge change in his approach to treatment. Each time Brody needed a procedure, the hospital staff would first complete the procedure on his doll Kyle, and explain it to Brody.” If Brody needed a Hickman port or a feeding tube, Kyle got it first. Although Brody didn’t have any control over what five different outfits complete with details such as numbers on the sports uniforms, belts and shoes to match, and a hospital gown so they are ready to share the medical experience with their new child. was happening to him, he could control Kyle’s treatment. Eventually as Brody healed, he got strong enough to receive physical and occupational therapy. Again Kyle became a wonderful tool as the therapist used him to demonstrate the next challenging task. This encouraged Brody to take the risks necessary for improvement, and a full recovery.

Showing love to children and sewing have been important parts of JoAnn’s life for as long as she can remember. As a very young girl, using her mother’s treadle Singer sewing machine, JoAnn stitched diapers out of white cotton flannel for her new baby brother. In 1957, just after she and Duane were married, JoAnn knew her little sister would be lonesome so she made her first doll as a gift for Susan. Through the years JoAnn and Duane were blessed with 3 children, 75 foster children, and many home daycare kids so their home was always a busy place. As her way of showing how much she cared, JoAnn continued to make hundreds of dolls and handmade quilts for both family and friends. When asked about what the future holds for her therapeutic doll project, JoAnn modestly replied, “I’ll keep making them as long as people need them.”

[AWM]