| Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy are | | | | They employ a wide variety of assessment plans, |
| rewarding and challenging careers that involve helping | | | | diagnostic techniques, and treatment procedures. For |
| people with a limiting physical condition. Both careers | | | | those interested in research and development, speech |
| focus on helping people overcome life challenges so | | | | language pathologists can specialize in seeking an |
| they can adjust and live a productive life. | | | | understanding of the causes of a speech disorder and |
| When considering a career in either speech pathology | | | | develop effective methods for evaluation and |
| or occupational therapy, most people will make a | | | | treatment of the condition. |
| choice based on their own personal goals and desires. | | | | One will often choose a career as an Occupational |
| Speech language pathology is the evaluation and | | | | Therapist because they have a genuine interest in |
| treatment of speech and language disorders. Speech | | | | enabling people to participate in the activities of |
| pathologists help individuals who have physical | | | | everyday life. Occupational therapy is a career that |
| disabilities associated with speech such as difficulty in | | | | focuses on activities regarding daily living. Their job is to |
| pronouncing words, hearing impairments, voice | | | | help people with impairments to adapt and function in |
| disorders, cognitive communication impairments, | | | | everyday life activities. They help individuals with |
| memory and problem solving disorders, and swallowing | | | | developmental, emotional, physical, and mental |
| difficulties. A speech therapist will work with people | | | | disabilities. The goal is to improve functioning and |
| who have difficulty speaking, forming words or sounds, | | | | wellness. Functioning tasks can include such actions as |
| or who are recuperating from an injury or illness that | | | | meal preparation, showering and dressing, managing |
| has affected their ability to speak. Speech disorders | | | | money, and implementing their daily routine. They will |
| can result from a number of conditions such as | | | | also help them function better in the workplace. Areas |
| delayed development, a genetic disorder, an accident, | | | | focused on include memory, cognition and perception |
| or a medical condition such as a stroke. Although they | | | | and motor skills. |
| are involved with helping adults, many speech | | | | Occupational therapists assist patients with achieving |
| pathologists tend to focus on children because early | | | | their set goals by improving their ability to participate in |
| childhood is an important time for speech and language | | | | daily routines, modifying the environment to help them |
| development. Those who want to specialize in helping | | | | function better, and adapting an activity to better |
| children will often choose speech pathology as a | | | | support their needs. They work with individuals, children, |
| career. | | | | families, groups and the community to facilitate health |
| Many people choose speech pathology due to a | | | | and well-being by establishing or re-establishing their |
| number of specialized areas one can pursue. These | | | | previous occupation. As well, Occupational Therapists |
| areas can include disorders in fluency, neurogenic | | | | are becoming increasingly more involved in tackling the |
| speech and language, language development, | | | | impact of social and environmental factors that affect |
| articulation, alternative communication, and swallowing. | | | | a person's ability to return to their previous occupation. |