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Speech pathologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Ruth Litovsky Ph.D.,
Dr. HyeKyeung Seung Ph.D.
Speech pathologist example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical speech pathologist skills. We ranked the top skills for speech pathologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.4% of speech pathologist resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a speech pathologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 speech pathologist skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how speech pathologists use patients:
  • Performed Communication/Alternative Augmentative/Environmental Control Assessments to patients.
  • Developed specific treatment plans and family education plans for rehabilitation patients in anticipation of discharge home or to appropriate rehabilitation facilities.

2. Language

Here's how speech pathologists use language:
  • Evaluated and treated congenital and/or acquired swallowing, cognitive, language, speech, and receptive/expressive communication deficits within geriatric population.
  • Supervised Staff Speech Language Pathologists and Clinical Fellowship Candidates at Bridgeport Hospital in an Acute Care and Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting.

3. Speech

Here's how speech pathologists use speech:
  • Leveraged experience and expertise in speech pathology to design individualized educational plans for communication disorders in students on a self-paced curriculum.
  • Conducted all areas of graduate student clinical education in Speech Pathology including diagnostic and treatment skills, writing and professional development

4. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how speech pathologists use patient care:
  • Supervised two speech therapy assistants and guided them though quality treatment, documentation, and productivity expectations for optimal patient care.
  • Provided patient/caregiver training and patient care consults to community agencies.

5. Rehabilitation

Here's how speech pathologists use rehabilitation:
  • Participated as a member of the acute care and outpatient rehabilitation team in diagnostic and therapeutic services to neurologically impaired adults.
  • Provided speech-language pathology services in Community Re-integration Neurological Rehabilitation Day Program; individual and group therapy for adolescents and adults.

6. Home Health

Here's how speech pathologists use home health:
  • Worked for two home health care agencies serving nursing homes and in home care in Palm Beach County, FL.
  • Evaluated and treated neurologically impaired adults with speech, language and swallowing disorders in the Home Health setting.

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7. SLP

SLP stands for speech-language pathologists. It is a field of experts in the language and speech sector. A speech-language pathologist diagnoses, assesses, communicates with clients, treats, and offers assistance to avoid communication and swallowing disarray in kids and grownups. A master's degree specializing in language speech pathology is a requirement to qualify in this field. Communication, compassionate, persistent, resourceful, adaptability, time management, and sensitivity include in the set skills necessary to operate in this field.

Here's how speech pathologists use slp:
  • Supervised SLP Assistants, evaluated/treated students with communication disorders and attended ARD's for student placement and dismissals.
  • Participated in education for the team regarding SLP services, referrals, and appropriate diagnoses.

8. Diagnosis

Here's how speech pathologists use diagnosis:
  • Performed and developed comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluation reports and follow-up reports to include information about diagnosis and recommendations for intervention.
  • Provided evaluations and diagnosis for adults with communication and swallowing disorders at a skilled nursing facility.

9. Compassion

Here's how speech pathologists use compassion:
  • Demonstrate the values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence during all interactions.
  • Represented organization in community, to parents, with compassion and empathy.

10. Treatment Programs

Here's how speech pathologists use treatment programs:
  • Developed and implemented treatment programs with the help of physicians, psychologist, psychiatrist and social workers.
  • Developed personalized treatment programs that focused on patient's positive response.

11. Language Disorders

Here's how speech pathologists use language disorders:
  • Consulted with monolingual speech pathologists to distinguish between language disorders or language differences in students.
  • Diagnosed children with speech and language disorders and created appropriate goals and objectives for Individualized

12. Communication Disorders

Those mental disorders that inhibit or weaken the ability to detect, listen, comprehend speech in an individual are called communication disorders. Such individuals have trouble using language as a discourse to express themselves. The extent of the disability varies in people, some may have a difficulty in detecting sound properly while others might be completely unable to understand speech.

Here's how speech pathologists use communication disorders:
  • Diagnosed and treated adults and children with neurological and/or developmental communication disorders, cognitive and swallowing disorders within an outpatient setting.
  • Provided consultation to two early intervention programs for students with communication disorders due to autism, hard-of-hearing, and developmental delays.

13. Diagnostic Evaluations

A diagnostic evaluation is a process of discovering the challenges in a student or in a particular thing through series of testing while learning and discovering the root cause of the problem. The diagnostic evaluation uncovers the strengths and weaknesses in people. The aim of the evaluation is to proffer solutions to the problems discovered.

Here's how speech pathologists use diagnostic evaluations:
  • Combined behavioral management techniques and evidence-based practice to enhance diagnostic evaluations and therapy methods of speech/language clients.
  • Performed diagnostic evaluations and devised treatment plans and activities.

14. Medicare

Medicare is a federal government insurance program that offers health care coverage to people who are 65 and above. In some cases, younger people with disabilities whose status is identified by the SSA can also avail the insurance program. Medicare covers the health expenses of people who are not able to afford it plus it protects the payee from rising health care costs.

Here's how speech pathologists use medicare:
  • Developed policies and procedures to secure Medicare and Medicaid provider numbers.
  • Experience with documentation for insurance companies and Medicare.

15. Voice Disorders

Here's how speech pathologists use voice disorders:
  • Treated voice disorders, including the use of biofeedback software such as VisiPitch/ Multidimensional Voice Program.
  • Utilized Videostrobolaryngoscopy to help diagnose and treat patients exhibiting a variety of voice disorders.
top-skills

What skills help Speech Pathologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on speech pathologist resumes?

Dr. Ruth Litovsky Ph.D.Dr. Ruth Litovsky Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor, Department Chair, University of Wisconsin – Madison

-Ability to work closely with others
-Organization
-Creative problem-solving
-Teamwork and strong communication skills

What speech pathologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. HyeKyeung Seung Ph.D.Dr. HyeKyeung Seung Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor and Chair, California State University, Fullerton

Technology including APPs will be used more in clinical settings. However, good clinical skills will not replaced by any of the technology.

What soft skills should all speech pathologists possess?

Anthony DiLollo

Director of the Davies School of COSD, and Professor, Texas Christian University

The ability to think critically and problem-solve is widely viewed as essential for clinicians. The emergence of person-centered care as a preferred mode of service delivery also means that clinicians must be flexible and creative in their approaches to intervention and understand how their assessment and treatment activities fit within each patient's personal and social contexts. In addition, leadership skills and the ability to work effectively as part of an interprofessional team are critical for long-term success in a speech pathologist's career.

What hard/technical skills are most important for speech pathologists?

Anthony DiLollo

Director of the Davies School of COSD, and Professor, Texas Christian University

Technical competence in evidence-based assessment and treatment across the scope of practice is the baseline for all clinicians. The ability to not only plan and execute assessment and treatment but also to accurately document therapeutic activities is critical. In addition, clinicians need to effectively talk about what they do and why their services are needed and will be effective.

What type of skills will young speech pathologists need?

Whitney Schneider-Cline Ph.D.Whitney Schneider-Cline Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Graduate Program Chair, University of Nebraska Kearney

Graduate students completing our program will continue to need skills in providing quality clinical services across diverse populations in various modalities. Graduates from the University of Nebraska Kearney speech-language pathology program have training and experience in telepractice (and have for several years - before the pandemic) and across various settings to give them the breadth of clinical skills to be successful professionals. We strive to develop our graduate students, so they are equipped with the skills necessary to provide appropriate evidence-based services, document these services professionally, advocate for their clients and profession, and instill life-long learning habits, so they stay informed well beyond our program.

What technical skills for a speech pathologist stand out to employers?

Denise Ludwig Ph.D.

Professor, Grand Valley State University

Technical skills such as software programs for health data/information and education program data entry are important for employers and as previously indicated, telepractice/tele-education skills will become more important for the future. Meeting improvement goals for health care, in the form of the Quadruple Aim, and for education, ESSA, will continue to rely on increased efficiency, effective, and patient/client/student outcomes.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about speech pathologist

List of speech pathologist skills to add to your resume

Speech pathologist skills

The most important skills for a speech pathologist resume and required skills for a speech pathologist to have include:

  • Patients
  • Language
  • Speech
  • Patient Care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Home Health
  • SLP
  • Diagnosis
  • Compassion
  • Treatment Programs
  • Language Disorders
  • Communication Disorders
  • Diagnostic Evaluations
  • Medicare
  • Voice Disorders
  • Program Development
  • CFY
  • Family Education
  • Language Therapy
  • Autism
  • Medicaid
  • IEP
  • Therapeutic Services
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Barium Swallow Studies
  • MBS
  • Standardized Testing
  • Acute Care
  • Adaptive
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Therapy Sessions
  • Early Intervention
  • Speech Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Cognitive Disorders
  • Therapeutic Interventions
  • ICU
  • Neck Cancer
  • Aphasia
  • Expressive Language
  • Language Services
  • Speech Pathology
  • SNF
  • Tracheostomy
  • Evaluation Reports
  • CVA
  • Dysarthria
  • Stim
  • Apraxia

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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