Speech Pathology: Something To Talk About
“I get as much satisfaction as I give,” said Lynn Enslin, a speech pathologist at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. “When I see someone’s eyes light up because they complete a task that was impossible just weeks before, it still gets to me, and I’ve been doing this a long time.”
Throughout the years, Enslin has played a role in hundreds of success stories. Just recently, she watched the continuous progress of a stroke patient who couldn’t converse with her family or attend social events when she entered treatment. Now, she is playing mahjong and ordering off the menu at restaurants. Another patient who previously needed 24-hour care is living on her own again. The families of these patients are immensely grateful. In many cases, therapy allows their loved ones to lead a normal life and eliminates the need for nursing home care.
Enslin diagnoses and treats inpatients of all ages with speech and language disorders resulting from strokes, accidents or disease. She must quickly evaluate new patients and determine their treatment priorities. Some have trouble being understood or can’t understand what is said to them. Others have problems with memory, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
“I think the critical piece is establishing communication,” said Julie Bantle, director of inpatient rehabilitationat St. John’s Mercy.
Working closely with patients to relearn each skill requires a great amount of patience and compassion. Speech pathologists must go back to the basics.
“Just learning to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is a big step,” Bantle said.
As highly respected members of the hospital team, speech pathologists respond to requests for help from physicians and other health care professionals throughout the hospital. Many work with outpatients who are further along in their treatment. As the elderly population in the United States continues to grow, more and more speech pathologists work with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients who have forgotten how to eat or swallow. Outside the hospital, speech pathologists can work in home health care or in private clinics.
Early on, Enslin chose health care over many career opportunities in education.
“My father was a physician and a role model,” Enslin said. “I grew up watching his dedication to his patients. I knew the hospital was the right place for me.”
Speech pathologists are well paid health care professionals. Because they are in demand and work by appointment, speech pathologists and supervisors work together to ensure convenient scheduling. They usually work the day shift and are frequently off weekends and holidays.
“Flexibility is a big advantage,” Enslin said. “I worked full time for nine years. Then, I went part time when I had children. Now, I’m full time again.”
A master’s degree in speech language pathology or audiology is the standard credential. Master’s programs include at least 300 hours of supervised clinical experience with specific requirements in each area of study, such as swallowing and language. Speech pathologists are licensed in Missouri and must complete a national examination. Once new speech pathologists are on the job, a licensed therapist monitors their performance for nine months.
Bantle cannot imagine a more fulfilling career.
“There’s never a day when you don’t help patients progress toward their goals,” she said. “There is always hope. We see so many devastating injuries, and yet six months later, many of our patients are back to work or school. It’s life altering to see the progress that is possible.”
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