Find Jobs
Find Jobs Near You – Available Work in Your Location
Speech Therapist
Career Insights for Speech Language Pathologist
See where this job fits in the broader career landscape. Knowing your career path helps you see what's possible from here.
Scorecard
Based on Louisiana data
Review key factors to help you decide if this role fits your goals. How is this calculated?
What they do
A Speech Language Pathologist diagnoses and treats speech, language, and swallowing disorders in patients with a variety of conditions. Helps patients improve their ability to make sounds or use language, or develop non-spoken means of communication. May specialize in working with patients of a certain age group, or treat speech problems resulting from a condition such as a stroke or cleft palate. Works in schools, hospitals and other healthcare facilities and works closely with physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other therapists.
$78,995 / year median in Louisiana
-2% projected decline
Job Description
- Current Louisiana Speech Therapy License in good standing.
- Master's degree in Speech Therapy from an accredited program.
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) preferred.
- Experience treating stroke patients preferred.
- Experience evaluating and treating dysphagia (swallowing disorders) preferred.
- Home health or private-duty therapy experience preferred.
- CPR certification preferred.
- Reliable transportation.
- Dependable, patient, compassionate, and professional.
- Comfortable working in a family home.
- Comfortable working around pets (family dog). Pay and Perks
- Private-pay $125 an hour based on experience and qualifications.
- Flexible scheduling coordinated around the client's therapy needs.
- Opportunity to provide individualized, one-on-one care in a supportive home environment. Duties and ResponsibilitiesEvaluation & Assessment
- Complete comprehensive speech-language evaluations.
- Assess speech, language, cognition, voice, and swallowing function.
- Identify communication deficits and establish measurable treatment goals.
- Reassess progress and modify treatment plans as appropriate. Speech & Language Therapy
- Improve expressive and receptive language skills.
- Improve speech clarity and intelligibility.
- Address voice disorders resulting from stroke.
- Improve communication strategies for daily living.
- Enhance functional communication and social interaction. Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Improve memory, attention, problem-solving, and executive functioning.
- Provide cognitive-linguistic therapy to maximize independence.
- Develop strategies to improve functional daily communication. Swallowing & Oral Motor Therapy
- Evaluate swallowing safety and function.
- Provide oral motor strengthening exercises.
- Implement dysphagia treatment techniques.
- Recommend safe swallowing strategies.
- Educate caregivers on aspiration precautions and safe feeding techniques. Caregiver Education
- Educate family members on communication techniques.
- Develop individualized home exercise programs.
- Provide swallowing safety education.
- Teach cognitive support strategies.
- Recommend environmental modifications that improve communication. Documentation
- Maintain accurate and timely treatment documentation.
- Record measurable progress toward treatment goals.
- Document therapy interventions and recommendations.
- Communicate client progress with family members and healthcare providers. Skills and Competencies
- Ability to provide compassionate, client-centered therapy while promoting dignity, independence, and quality of life.
- Strong knowledge of adult speech Therapy and neurological rehabilitation.
- Experience evaluating and treating communication, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders.
- Knowledge of dysphagia management and aspiration precautions.
- Ability to develop individualized treatment plans using evidence-based practices.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusting relationships with clients, family members, and healthcare professionals.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to educate caregivers and family members on therapy techniques and home exercise programs.
- Strong assessment, observation, and clinical reasoning skills.
- Ability to accurately document evaluations, treatment sessions, and client progress.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with physicians, therapists, and caregivers.
- Emotional maturity, patience, and professionalism when working with individuals recovering from stroke.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect client privacy.
- Dependable, punctual, and committed to providing consistent, high-quality therapy services.
- Ability to remain calm and responsive during unexpected situations.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt treatment approaches to meet changing client needs.
- Commitment to fostering a positive, encouraging, and supportive rehabilitation environment. Physical and Mental Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and move throughout therapy sessions.
- Ability to safely assist with client positioning during evaluations and treatment sessions.
- Ability to demonstrate oral motor exercises and therapeutic activities.
- Ability to observe and assess changes in speech, cognition, swallowing, and communication abilities.
- Ability to maintain focus, attention to detail, and accurate clinical documentation throughout each visit.
- Ability to exercise sound clinical judgment and make appropriate treatment decisions within the scope of professional practice.
- Ability to communicate effectively with family members, physicians, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals.
- Ability to maintain professionalism, patience, and emotional stability while treating clients recovering from serious neurological conditions.
- Ability to manage multiple treatment goals while delivering individualized, high-quality therapy.
- Ability to work independently in a private home environment while remaining flexible and responsive to the client's needs.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive health information with discretion.
- Ability to build positive therapeutic relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.