What does a speech-language pathology assistant do?
A Speech-Language Pathology Assistant helps speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech. They document patient performance and report the findings and other information to the supervisor.
Speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real speech-language pathology assistant resumes:
- Manage scheduling and patient treatment according to insurance and Medicaid guidelines.
- Provide individual and group speech and language therapy to children and adults, with a strong emphasis on those with autism.
- Conduct diagnostic evaluations and provide individual therapy for adult client with aphasia and pragmatic impairments secondary to stroke
- Assist with staff education and supervision on language facilitation, AAC and visual supports.
- Provide speaking valve therapy for tracheostomy and ventilator dependent patients.
- Evaluate patients with tracheostomy tubes to determine preparedness for one-way speaking valve.
- Select and prepare age-appropriate, culturally-sensitive speech therapy activities in accordance with the students' individualize education program (IEP).
- Experience in using the PECS program and working with AAC devices.
- Provide both long and short term coverage to skil nursing facilities, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
- Provide one-on-one assistance to kindergarten students with autism.
- Assist with departmental operations such as record-keeping and Medicaid treatment logs.
- Ensure appropriate rehabilitation services are delivered to each client as need- ed
- Provide direct treatment assistance to patients while following and implementing document treatment plans.
- Act as supervisor for SLP-Assistant and complete supervisory responsibilities for clinician during CFY.
- Supervise speech department for skil nursing unit including CFY supervision/training and therapy liaison to administration.
Speech-language pathology assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants are proficient in Speech Language Pathology, Home Health, and Patients. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Compassion.
We break down the percentage of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Speech Language Pathology, 23%
Conduct speech and language screenings utilizing screening protocols specified by the supervising speech language pathology.
- Home Health, 8%
Maintain speech and language records and documentation as directed by my licensed supervisor in a home health setting.
- Patients, 7%
Worked with patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome and Articulation and Phonological Processing Disorders.
- Language Disorders, 7%
Provided services to children with social problems, fluency disorders, articulation disorders, language disorders, and cognitive problems.
- Asha, 5%
Completed the one year clinical fellowship requirements for ASHA certification (American Speech-Language-hearing Association) during this time.
- Communication Disorders, 5%
Assisted therapist in caseload planning, daily documentation of goals and intervention for a variety of communication disorders.
Most speech-language pathology assistants use their skills in "speech language pathology," "home health," and "patients" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a speech-language pathology assistant to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "speech-language pathologists must select appropriate diagnostic tools and evaluate results to identify goals and develop a treatment plan." Speech-language pathology assistants often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "maintain accurate data collection for individual students. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling speech-language pathology assistant duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "speech-language pathologists need to explain test results, diagnoses, and proposed treatments in a way that individuals and their families can understand." According to a speech-language pathology assistant resume, here's how speech-language pathology assistants can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "utilize kaufman treatment kit for apraxia to improve functional communication. "
Compassion. speech-language pathology assistants are also known for compassion, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities, because "speech-language pathologists may work with people who are frustrated by their communication difficulties." A speech-language pathology assistant resume example shows how compassion is used in the workplace: "display patience, compassion, and good listening skills. "
Detail oriented. A big part of what speech-language pathology assistants do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities because "speech-language pathologists must comprehensive notes on clients' progress to ensure that they continue receiving proper treatment." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical speech-language pathology assistant tasks: "assembled data collection detailing the developmental history of the patient, observation of behavior and social interaction, and communication skills. "
Listening skills. Another common skill required for speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of speech-language pathology assistants all the time, as "speech-language pathologists must pay attention to hear the clients' communication difficulties and determine a course of action." An excerpt from a real speech-language pathology assistant resume shows how this skill is central to what a speech-language pathology assistant does: "collaborated and communicated with professionals (ot, pt, aba, teachers etc. )"
See the full list of speech-language pathology assistant skills
The three companies that hire the most speech-language pathology assistants are:
- AlphaVista Services47 speech-language pathology assistants jobs
- At Home Healthcare17 speech-language pathology assistants jobs
- HealthPRO13 speech-language pathology assistants jobs
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Compare different speech-language pathology assistants
Speech-language pathology assistant vs. Speech therapist technician
Speech Therapy Assistants are responsible for providing administrative and operational support to speech therapists in aiding patients with conditions affecting communication, feeding, and swallowing. Their duties include collecting patient communication information, assist in implementing evidence-based intervention programs, identify staff training needs, and gathering information from observations and sessions. They maintain accurate work activity notes, answer phone calls, respond to emails, and manage supplies procurement. Speech Therapist Assistants also assist in developing communication strategies.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between speech-language pathology assistants and speech therapist technician. For instance, speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities require skills such as "speech language pathology," "home health," "language disorders," and "asha." Whereas a speech therapist technician is skilled in "cpr," "developmental disabilities," "patient care," and "crisis intervention." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Speech therapist technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than speech-language pathology assistants. In fact, speech therapist technicians are 4.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Speech-language pathology assistant vs. Speech correction assistant
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that speech-language pathology assistant responsibilities requires skills like "speech language pathology," "home health," "patients," and "language disorders." But a speech correction assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "criminal justice," "correctional facility," "ncic," and "security functions."
Speech correction assistants earn lower levels of education than speech-language pathology assistants in general. They're 8.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for speech-language pathology assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Monica Sampson Ph.D.
Director of Health Care Services in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA
- Telehealth platforms to enable access to patients who otherwise have limited access to timely and reliable SLP services
- Electronic documentation systems, especially ones that seamlessly integrate across providers in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and outpatient clinics. This minimizes gaps in communication among clinicians with easy transfer of records.
- Assistive technology to enhance to either provide or augment access to communication for children and adults who cannot communicate or have difficulty communicating verbally, including SGDs.
- Apps and digital material as assessment and treatment tools: With an increased focus on digital access to SLP services, the profession has a critical need for digital material for assessment and treatment of communication, cognition, and swallowing impairments across the lifespan.
- Use of artificial intelligence to bolster learning and enhance creativity in pedagogy.
The lack of access to technology by underrepresented populations will continue to be a pressing need post-COVID-19.
Speech-language pathology assistant vs. Speech therapy assistant
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, speech-language pathology assistants are more likely to have skills like "speech language pathology," "home health," "asha," and "communication devices." But a speech therapy assistant is more likely to have skills like "speech-language pathologist," "patient care," "compassion," and "occupational therapy."
Speech therapy assistants earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $35,926. Comparatively, speech-language pathology assistants have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $63,417.Most speech therapy assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to speech-language pathology assistants. For example, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Speech-language pathology assistant vs. Speech pathology teacher
Types of speech-language pathology assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
