- Features of work
- Where to study
- Who is a speech pathologist?
- How to get education remotely
- Employment
Currently, there is an increased interest in the profession of speech therapist. The main reason is the continuous increase in the number of children with serious speech disorders, complicated by various neurological abnormalities. Such problems require long-term complex treatment and a high level of specialist competence.
Adults also began to see a speech therapist more often. For example, people who have suffered a stroke and therefore have difficulty communicating. The services of a speech therapist are also needed for those for whom Russian is a non-native language, in order to learn correct pronunciation.
Features of the work of a speech therapist
Speech therapy affects the fields of pedagogy, psychology and medicine. This science deals with speech disorders, their prevention or correction using various teaching and educational methods. Many people wonder: is a speech therapist a teacher or a doctor?
A speech therapist is a correctional teacher who identifies and corrects speech defects that arise due to a person’s individual characteristics. If speech deviations are a symptom of any disorder or disease in the body, then this is the field of activity of a speech therapist-defectologist and doctors. The work of a speech therapist is in many ways similar to the work of a teacher in a school. He must have great patience with his students. It often takes a long time to achieve tangible results. He must be emotionally stable and sensitive, delicate and tactful. His desire for continuous learning and professional development is necessary.
Responsibilities at work
The range of functional responsibilities of a speech therapist is quite wide, it includes:
- examination of preschoolers or school students for the development of their speech functions, determining the severity and structure of the defect;
- planning, organizing and conducting individual and group correctional work with children who have speech development disorders;
- improving literacy and expanding children's vocabulary;
- staffing subgroups taking into account the characteristics of the pupils’ condition;
- consulting parents and teaching staff regarding the specifics of working with a particular child, techniques and methods of assisting him;
- carrying out work aimed at socializing the child, developing the culture of his personality;
- filling out a speech card and other documentation.
If we move away from general phrases, then when working with each student, the speech therapist needs to perform the following algorithm of actions:
- get to know the child and establish contact with him;
- conduct an examination, identify speech development problems and make a diagnosis;
- determine the methods by which it is best to organize classes;
- conduct classes on them in a group or individually according to the approved schedule;
- develop an individual set of exercises for regular performance at home and conduct educational training for the child’s parents;
- evaluate the achieved result after a certain period of time, and then adjust the program.
Where do they study to become a speech therapist?
You can study to become a speech therapist at a pedagogical university at the faculty of correctional pedagogy. To enroll as a speech therapist, you must have a secondary (complete) education and successfully pass exams (Unified State Examination) in the following disciplines: Russian language, social studies, biology.
Another option: to become a speech therapist based on higher pedagogical or defectological education. In this case, you can enroll in absentia in the direction of “Speech Therapy” at an institution of additional professional education.
Professional retraining programs in speech therapy will be a suitable option for working teachers. For example, if in the kindergarten or school where the teacher works, a vacancy for a speech therapist has become available and he wants to get it.
What subjects are studied
Speech therapy combines several aspects of personality. You have partially familiarized yourself with the characteristics necessary to master the profession in the block “What qualities are needed.” But the defectology department offers an extensive program to develop these skills in order to successfully master this profession.
Future speech therapists become familiar with the following disciplines:
- the basics of pedagogical education - because a speech therapist must be able to communicate with children;
- the basics of psychology, not only for children, but also for adults;
- anatomy and medicine.
A more detailed training program can be found on the website of a specific university. Some items may vary.
Who is a speech pathologist?
This is the profession of a correctional teacher who corrects the speech of children and adults with disabilities (with pathologies of the speech apparatus, hearing organs and central nervous system). A speech pathologist-defectologist has special methods of communication and teaching. They make it possible to identify the cause of speech impairment in people of different ages and provide the necessary assistance in adaptation and speech development.
Studying in absentia to become a speech pathologist-defectologist is recommended for those who wish to deal with speech disorders with concomitant pathologies of the hearing organs, speech apparatus or central nervous system. You can get a diploma with such a narrow specialization through the professional retraining programs “Defectology”, “Oligophrenopedagogy”.
Advantages of professional retraining for a specialist in the field of correctional pedagogy:
- you can enroll without entrance tests;
- short training period (from several months to two years);
- affordable price (compared to paid university education);
- practice-oriented program (only specialized disciplines).
- diploma of the established form with qualification
The requirements for work experience as a speech therapist are not specified in the unified qualification directory, so it is enough to have the appropriate education to get a job.
What qualities are needed?
Speech therapist is a rather interesting job that requires perseverance. The process of correcting speech is a long one; it is impossible to achieve significant success in a short period of time. In addition, representatives of this profession often work with very young children, whom they need to be able to keep busy.
A good speech therapist must simultaneously combine several professional characteristics. It should be:
- an excellent psychologist - each student needs his own approach;
- a patient teacher - no one will be able to pronounce a problem sound perfectly in the first few lessons;
- an experienced doctor - in order to solve the problem, you need to recognize what exactly requires adjustment or treatment.
In addition, the profession requires documentation. A good specialist always has many clients and each one applies his own methodology, the progress of which must be carefully monitored and recorded - therefore such a person must have at least basic information about self-organization.
How to get a speech therapist education remotely
You can become a speech therapist by correspondence using remote technologies. It is simple, convenient and does not require interruption of work. Today, this form of training is available in many universities and continuing education institutions.
The Academy implements several distance learning programs in speech therapy.
The professional retraining program “Speech Therapy” is intended for teachers of preschool and school institutions.
Duration of training – 260 / 510 academic hours (from 2 to 4 months).
Main topics of study
- Regulatory and legal support for the education of persons with disabilities;
- Medical and biological foundations of defectology;
- Organization of speech therapy work;
- Fundamentals of special pedagogy and psychology;
- Types of speech disorders and methods of speech therapy.
Training according to the program will allow you to effectively manage the process of development of the individuality and personality of a child who needs specialized individual methods of education and training.
The advanced training program “Speech Therapy” is intended for practicing specialists who want to expand and update their knowledge.
Duration of study – 180 academic hours. (1 month).
The programs comply with the requirements of Federal Law dated December 29, 2012 N 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” and Order of the Ministry of Labor of Russia dated October 18, 2013 N 544n (as amended on August 5, 2016) “On approval of the professional standard “Teacher (pedagogical activities in the field of preschool, primary general, basic general, secondary general education) (educator, teacher).”
Famous representatives of the profession
Levina Roza Evgenievna
Soviet teacher, psychologist
The biggest achievement is the construction of the concept of general speech underdevelopment. She developed a classification of general speech underdevelopment and revealed ways to overcome it.
More details
Lyapidevsky Sergey Semenovich
Russian scientist in the field of speech therapy.
His research on the study and correction of people who stutter is of great importance. He participated in the creation of natural scientific foundations for the education and training of children with speech disorders, studied issues of differential diagnosis, child psychopathology and neuropathology.
More details
Why is distance learning easy?
To become a speech therapist remotely, you only need a computer, tablet or smartphone with Internet access. You do not need to have special knowledge or install any additional programs on your computer.
For example, training at ABiUS takes place on the website in a distance learning system. The student is required to have only general computer knowledge. Thanks to the intuitive interface, the user navigates this system independently and without difficulty. Here he uploads the necessary documents, gets access to educational materials and practical assignments, and takes tests.
The student can ask questions related to the training by phone to his methodologist, who supervises him from the beginning to the end of the training.
There is no need to come to take the final exam; everything takes place online. Receiving a diploma or certificate is free by Russian Post.
Who is suitable for the profession of speech therapist, description of the profession
A speech therapist helps people build correct speech, improve diction, and get rid of problems with pronunciation. Such specialists relieve stuttering, burr, and lisp. The profession is in demand, as many people want to improve their speech.
Most often, parents of children of preschool and primary school age turn to such a specialist. But it also works with adults - it helps not only to correct congenital features of speech development, but also to restore speech after illness or injury.
Among the advantages of this profession are the opportunity to help people, engage in creativity, and work with patients of any age. You can also become an entrepreneur in the future, set your own schedule and have unlimited income. Disadvantages - low official salary, strong emotional involvement, slow progress with the client (several weeks or months).
People who have the following personal qualities should work in this field:
- high level of empathy;
- patience, perseverance;
- creativity;
- love for children, ability to work with them;
- tact.
Admission conditions:
Based on 9th grade:
¦ Preschool education - Russian language, biology or GIA results according to the new form ¦ Teaching in primary classes - Russian language, mathematics or GIA results according to the new form ¦ Pedagogy of additional education - Russian language, literature or GIA results according to the new form
Based on 11th grade:
¦ Preschool education - Russian language, biology - Unified State Examination results, testing for persons who graduated from school before 01/01/2009 ¦ Teaching in primary classes - Russian language, mathematics - Unified State Examination results, testing for persons who graduated from school before 01/01/2009
Training courses
The college invites you to paid preparatory courses to prepare for entrance exams based on grades 9 and 11 in the subjects:
- Russian language,
- mathematics,
- Informatics,
- English language,
- biology,
- literature.
Groups are recruited for 3, 6, 8 month courses. A group is opened when at least 15 people are recruited.
Classes are held 1-3 times a week (depending on the specialty and the number of subjects you choose).
The cost of courses depends on the duration of training and the number of subjects chosen.
Training is conducted by experienced teachers working in our college.
Inquiries by phone: 8 and 8 .
Schedule of group classes based on 9 classes:
Russian language - Thursday at 16:00; Mathematics - Wednesday at 16:45; Biology - Monday at 16:00; English - Friday at 16:45.
How can a young specialist start working?
A student can get a job in a school or kindergarten already in the third year, so after graduating from a university or technical school, the graduate will have experience and a place to work. You will still have to train on living people - this is a necessary stage in the development of any specialist. You can start with the neighbor's children, and it is better to tackle simple speech defects, for example, making sounds. You need to honestly warn parents that you still have little experience, but it is in this area that you are already competent. You need to be ready to work in public - report on video to your superiors, be able to work in the presence of family members.
More and more private children's speech centers are appearing every year, and their owners place emphasis on young specialists whom they are ready to train and support, as they see in them great potential and a difference from the Soviet approach to work.
Another tip would be to get yourself a mentor or supervisor of more experienced professionals to consult with on difficult issues.
Minuses
Like any other profession, it has its positive and negative sides. If we start with the disadvantages, then first of all it is working with “special” children. It's hard physically and emotionally. You can cope with such a load if you really have the desire to help. Working with such patients will be long and difficult, step by step, so the specialist requires enormous patience.
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One more minute - document management. If the work is carried out in a budget organization, then it will be necessary to keep many logs about all stages of treatment and progress. In private clinics or individual practices, the specialist determines the amount of paperwork for himself. But you won’t be able to completely abandon document management; there is basic reporting.
Lack of career growth can also be attributed to the disadvantages of the profession. You will not become a department head or a school director. Your task will be the same every day: the formation of purity of speech. The only leap you can make in the profession is to open a private practice and charge hourly wages.
What do you need to submit additionally?
Don’t forget about such an additional test as an interview with an applicant. It is here that the applicant can express himself and demonstrate his desire to study in this particular area of training.
During a personal interview, questions can be both professional and cultural.
Since this is a very responsible profession and it requires special skills, questions may be asked during the interview. Questions can be of a professional nature or of a cultural nature. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to purposefully prepare for it by reading professional literature.
