If you are interested in pursuing a career as a speech therapist, it is important to first know the ins and outs of the field. From the necessary credentials required for licensure and certification to speech therapy salaries and work environments, having a full understanding about this profession will help you make an informed decision about your goals.
Speech therapy is an amazing and rewarding career that allows you to help people with communication disorders improve their lives. But it is also a challenging and competitive field, one that requires years of schooling and a master’s degree. If you are considering whether speech therapy is the right career for you, taking free online courses is a great way to test the waters before diving in.
Experts generally agree that it’s good to be able to speak, and that more speech is better than less speech. If you want to increase the amount of speaking you do, consider taking a free online course in speech therapy. Whether it’s for health reasons or if you just want to say things more often, these courses can help you get from where you are now to where you want to go.
If you’re not a therapist, don’t worry! These courses are designed for everyone, whether or not you have children or work with children. They’ll teach you how to speak well in any situation, whether it’s giving a presentation at work, making a sales pitch, or chatting with friends at a party. You’ll learn how to identify problems with your speech and how to fix them before they become an issue.
These courses will give you the skills and confidence you need to communicate effectively in any situation. You’ll learn the basics of speech therapy as well as advanced topics such as stuttering, slurring words, and more.
Free online speech therapy courses are available in introductory through advanced levels. The courses are offered through OpenCourseWare (OCW) programs provided by leading universities. These free, non-credit speech therapy courses can be accessed at any time and do not require registration or formal application to a degree program.
A basic introduction to speech therapy is covered by several OCW programs. These classes are intended for students interested in pursuing speech pathology as a career, but they may also benefit individuals who work with people who have communication disorders.
This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the development of language and communication skills from infancy through early childhood. The course covers all aspects of the communication process, including anatomy and physiology, linguistics and acoustics. Basic psychology is also introduced.
This course examines the causes, symptoms and treatment of various communication disorders experienced by infants, children and adults. Students learn about the main areas of speech pathology, including articulation disorders and voice disorders. The class also offers a brief overview of audiology.
The field of speech pathology is growing rapidly and is projected to continue increasing at a rate of 25% over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Speech pathologists, or SLPs, are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat communication disorders. They work with patients ranging from infants to senior citizens. Most SLPs work in K-12 schools, hospitals, or private clinics.
To become an SLP, you must complete a master’s degree or PhD program in speech pathology accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). However, ASHA also offers a certification called Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), which you can earn before completing your graduate degree. This process involves taking certain classes, working with patients under supervision, and passing a national exam.
Although ASHA does not require students to take specific undergraduate courses in order to be eligible for their certification, it does recommend certain classes to prepare students for graduate school and clinical work as an SLP. These include courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, behavioral science, and physics.