Top 12 Speech Therapist Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting an effective resume as a speech therapist requires highlighting a unique blend of technical expertise and soft skills that demonstrate your capability to facilitate communication improvements in clients. Showcasing these top 12 skills on your resume can significantly enhance your appeal to potential employers by illustrating your comprehensive approach to assessment, treatment, and patient support in the field of speech therapy.

Speech Therapist Skills

1. Articulation
2. Fluency
3. AAC Devices
4. PROMPT Technique
5. LSVT LOUD
6. Dysphagia Management
7. Voice Therapy
8. Language Disorders
9. Cognitive-Communication
10. Pediatric Feeding
11. SpeechEasy
12. Teletherapy Platforms

1. Articulation

Articulation, in the context of speech therapy, refers to the physical ability to move the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate to produce distinct sounds that form words. Speech therapists work to correct articulation disorders, ensuring clear and effective speech production.

Why It's Important

Articulation is crucial for clear and effective communication, impacting an individual's ability to express thoughts, needs, and emotions. Speech therapists focus on articulation to help improve speech clarity, ensuring successful verbal interactions and enhancing overall quality of life.

How to Improve Articulation Skills

Improving articulation often involves focused practice, awareness, and sometimes professional intervention. Here are concise steps a speech therapist might recommend:

1. Assessment: First, accurately identify the specific articulation challenges through professional evaluation.

2. Target Sounds: Focus on specific sounds that are difficult. Practice these sounds slowly and in isolation at first.

3. Visual Aids: Use mirrors or video feedback to help visualize correct tongue and lip movements. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides resources on articulation disorders.

4. Listening Exercises: Enhance auditory discrimination of target sounds through listening exercises. This can involve distinguishing between correct and incorrect productions of sounds.

5. Repetition and Practice: Implement structured practice sessions for the targeted sounds, gradually moving from sounds in isolation to syllables, words, phrases, and conversational speech. Home-Speech-Home offers word lists for practice.

6. Feedback: Continuous, immediate feedback is crucial. This can be from self-assessment or from a therapist.

7. Generalization: Practice the correct articulation in various settings and speaking situations to ensure the new speech patterns become automatic.

8. Maintenance: Regularly monitor and practice the correct speech patterns to maintain improvements.

For more detailed guidance and resources, consulting with a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is recommended. Professional organizations like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provide directories to find qualified therapists.

How to Display Articulation Skills on Your Resume

2. Fluency

Fluency, in the context of speech therapy, refers to the smooth, uninterrupted flow of speech, characterized by an appropriate rate and rhythm, allowing for clear and effective communication.

Why It's Important

Fluency is crucial for effective communication. It allows individuals to convey their thoughts and needs smoothly, enhancing their ability to participate in social, educational, and professional environments. For a Speech Therapist, improving fluency is key to helping clients overcome speech disorders, boost confidence, and achieve better interpersonal interactions.

How to Improve Fluency Skills

Improving fluency, especially from a speech therapist's perspective, involves a combination of techniques aimed at enhancing the smooth flow of speech. Here are concise strategies:

1. Practice Slow and Controlled Speech: Begin with slow, deliberate speech, gradually increasing speed while maintaining clarity. ASHA offers resources on modulation techniques.

2. Breathing Exercises: Controlled breathing helps manage the pace and rhythm of speech. Stuttering Foundation provides exercises and tips.

3. Reading Aloud: Regular practice of reading aloud can improve speech patterns and confidence. Reading Rockets is a great resource for techniques and materials.

4. Phonological Awareness: Enhancing awareness of sounds in language can be beneficial. Activities can be found on Speech And Language Kids.

5. Feedback Mechanism: Use recordings of your speech to self-evaluate or get feedback from a professional. Tools and apps for recording and analysis are discussed on Pathways.

6. Desensitization Practices: Facing speaking fears in controlled environments helps reduce anxiety associated with speaking. Guidance on these strategies can be found through National Stuttering Association.

Each strategy should be tailored to the individual's needs, and professional guidance from a licensed speech therapist is recommended for optimal outcomes.

How to Display Fluency Skills on Your Resume

3. AAC Devices

AAC devices, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices, are tools used by speech therapists to facilitate communication for individuals with speech or language impairments. These devices range from simple picture boards to sophisticated electronic gadgets that generate speech, aiding users in expressing themselves more effectively.

Why It's Important

AAC devices are crucial for speech therapists as they provide alternative communication methods for individuals who have difficulty speaking or are non-verbal, enhancing their ability to express themselves and interact with others.

How to Improve AAC Devices Skills

Improving AAC (Augmented and Alternative Communication) devices involves focusing on customization, user training, and technological advancements. Here are concise strategies:

1. Customization: Tailor AAC devices to the individual's needs, preferences, and abilities. This includes personalized vocabularies, accessible interfaces, and adaptable settings. AssistiveWare offers resources and tools for customizing AAC solutions.

2. User Training: Provide comprehensive training for both users and their communication partners. Effective training enhances device utilization and communication outcomes. AAC Institute offers resources on user training and competency development.

3. Technological Advancements: Keep abreast of and incorporate the latest technologies, such as AI and machine learning, to improve the efficiency and intuitiveness of AAC devices. Tobii Dynavox regularly updates its devices with cutting-edge technology.

4. Collaboration with Developers: Work closely with AAC device developers to provide feedback and suggest improvements based on clinical experience and user feedback. This collaboration can lead to more practical and user-friendly AAC solutions.

5. Accessibility and Portability: Ensure AAC devices are accessible to all users, including those with physical limitations. Devices should be portable and durable for everyday use. Prentke Romich Company (PRC) offers a range of accessible and portable AAC devices.

6. Regular Assessment and Adjustment: Continuously assess the user's needs and the device's effectiveness, making adjustments as necessary to ensure the AAC device remains a beneficial tool for the user.

By focusing on these areas, speech therapists can significantly improve the effectiveness of AAC devices for their clients, enhancing communication and quality of life.

How to Display AAC Devices Skills on Your Resume

4. PROMPT Technique

The PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) technique is a tactile-kinesthetic approach used by speech therapists, where the therapist uses touch cues on the client's face (jaw, lips, tongue) to support and shape correct movement patterns for speech production, aiming to improve speech clarity and articulation.

Why It's Important

The PROMPT Technique is crucial for Speech Therapists as it provides a tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech therapy, enabling therapists to guide patients' jaw, tongue, and lip movements through touch. This hands-on method facilitates the development of motor control for speech production, enhancing the effectiveness of therapy for individuals with speech production disorders.

How to Improve PROMPT Technique Skills

To improve the PROMPT Technique as a Speech Therapist, consider the following steps:

1. Enhance Your Understanding: Deepen your knowledge of PROMPT therapy by enrolling in advanced training courses offered by the PROMPT Institute.

2. Practice Regularly: Engage in regular practice sessions, possibly with a mentor or colleague, to refine your tactile-kinesthetic skills.

3. Stay Updated: Keep up with the latest research and developments in PROMPT technique by subscribing to relevant journals and newsletters from authoritative sources.

4. Join a Community: Participate in forums or online communities (e.g., Speech Pathology forums) for speech therapists to exchange experiences and troubleshooting tips.

5. Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from your clients and peers to identify areas for improvement.

6. Utilize Resources: Make use of available resources, including books, videos, and online tutorials, to enhance your skills and understanding. The PROMPT Institute offers various resources for continuous learning.

By following these steps, you can work towards mastering the PROMPT technique and improving your efficacy as a Speech Therapist.

How to Display PROMPT Technique Skills on Your Resume

5. LSVT LOUD

LSVT LOUD is an evidence-based speech therapy program designed to improve vocal loudness, clarity, and quality in individuals with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions, focusing on maximizing vocal effort and respiratory support.

Why It's Important

LSVT LOUD is important for a Speech Therapist because it provides an evidence-based, intensive treatment protocol designed to improve vocal loudness, intonation, and voice quality in individuals with Parkinson's disease, thereby enhancing their ability to communicate effectively.

How to Improve LSVT LOUD Skills

To enhance the effectiveness of LSVT LOUD, a speech therapy program designed for individuals with Parkinson's disease, consider the following strategies:

1. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest research and advancements in LSVT LOUD through LSVT Global. Participate in advanced training workshops and online courses.

2. Personalization: Tailor the program to meet each client's unique needs and goals. Adjust exercises based on their progress and feedback.

3. Technology Integration: Utilize apps and software designed for LSVT LOUD to facilitate practice and feedback. Consider tools like LSVT Companion.

4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with other healthcare professionals involved in your client’s care. This approach ensures a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all aspects of their health.

5. Family Involvement: Encourage family members to participate in sessions when appropriate. They can provide support and motivation, and learn techniques to help the client practice at home.

6. Feedback Mechanisms: Implement regular, constructive feedback during sessions. Use recording and playback tools to help clients self-assess and recognize improvements.

7. Practice and Consistency: Emphasize the importance of daily practice. Provide clear instructions and resources for exercises to be done at home.

8. Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly assess progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. This may involve increasing the difficulty of exercises or focusing on specific areas of need.

By staying informed, personalizing treatment, and utilizing technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, you can enhance the effectiveness of LSVT LOUD therapy for your clients.

How to Display LSVT LOUD Skills on Your Resume

6. Dysphagia Management

Dysphagia management, in the context of Speech Therapy, involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating swallowing disorders. Speech Therapists implement strategies and interventions to improve the safety and efficiency of swallowing, aiming to reduce the risk of aspiration, improve nutritional intake, and enhance the patient's quality of life.

Why It's Important

Dysphagia management is crucial for a Speech Therapist as it ensures the safety and efficiency of swallowing, helping to prevent aspiration, malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia, thus significantly improving the patient's quality of life and overall health outcomes.

How to Improve Dysphagia Management Skills

Improving dysphagia management as a Speech Therapist involves a multifaceted approach focused on assessment, intervention, and collaboration. Here's a concise guide:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: Begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient's swallowing function using techniques like the Clinical Swallowing Examination and instrumental assessments such as Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) or Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). For guidelines on conducting these assessments, refer to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

2. Tailored Intervention Plans: Based on the assessment, develop personalized treatment plans. This may include exercises to improve muscle strength and coordination, dietary modifications, and teaching compensatory strategies. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) offers resources on various intervention strategies.

3. Patient and Caregiver Education: Educate patients and their caregivers about safe swallowing techniques, dietary modifications, and the importance of adhering to prescribed therapies. ASHA provides patient education resources that can be beneficial.

4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with other healthcare professionals such as dietitians, occupational therapists, and physicians to ensure a comprehensive care approach. This interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for addressing all aspects of the patient's health and well-being. The Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) promotes research and collaboration across disciplines.

5. Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest research and advances in dysphagia management by engaging in professional development opportunities. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) provides resources and training on standardized diets and assessment tools.

By incorporating these strategies, Speech Therapists can significantly enhance the quality of care for individuals with dysphagia, improving their safety and quality of life.

How to Display Dysphagia Management Skills on Your Resume

7. Voice Therapy

Voice therapy is a treatment approach used by speech therapists to help individuals improve or modify their vocal function. This therapy aims to address voice disorders or difficulties through exercises, techniques, and education to achieve optimal voice quality and vocal health.

Why It's Important

Voice therapy is important because it helps individuals rehabilitate and optimize their voice quality and function, addressing issues such as vocal strain, hoarseness, or voice loss. It involves techniques and exercises tailored by speech therapists to improve vocal health, ensuring effective and sustainable voice use in daily communication.

How to Improve Voice Therapy Skills

Improving voice therapy involves a multifaceted approach focusing on technique enhancement, patient engagement, and professional development. Here are concise strategies for a Speech Therapist to improve voice therapy:

1. Stay Updated: Continuously update your knowledge on voice therapy techniques and research. Websites like American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offer valuable resources and research updates.

2. Use Technology: Incorporate technology, such as voice analysis software and apps, to provide real-time feedback and make sessions more engaging. Explore tools listed on VoiceScienceWorks.

3. Personalize Therapy: Tailor therapy sessions to each patient's specific needs, interests, and goals. This approach fosters greater patient engagement and outcomes.

4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with other professionals (e.g., ENTs, vocal coaches) for comprehensive care. Sharing insights can be facilitated through platforms like LinkedIn for professional networking.

5. Patient Education: Educate patients about voice care, including hydration, vocal rest, and proper voice use. Use visual aids and resources from The Voice Foundation for patient education.

6. Feedback Mechanisms: Implement systematic feedback mechanisms (e.g., surveys, direct feedback sessions) to understand patient satisfaction and areas for improvement in your therapy approach.

7. Professional Development: Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences to enhance your skills. Look for opportunities on the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP) website.

8. Practice Self-care: Maintain your own voice health and model healthy vocal habits for your patients. This practice not only ensures your longevity in the field but also serves as a live example for patients.

By integrating these strategies, Speech Therapists can significantly enhance the effectiveness of their voice therapy sessions, leading to better patient outcomes and professional satisfaction.

How to Display Voice Therapy Skills on Your Resume

8. Language Disorders

Language disorders are impairments that affect an individual's ability to comprehend, produce, and use words and sentences to communicate effectively. They can involve difficulties with vocabulary, sentence structure, and discourse, impacting both spoken and written language. Speech therapists assess, diagnose, and treat these disorders to improve language skills and functional communication.

Why It's Important

Understanding language disorders is crucial for a Speech Therapist because it enables them to accurately diagnose, treat, and support individuals who struggle with communication, thereby improving their ability to express themselves, understand others, and successfully engage in social and academic environments.

How to Improve Language Disorders Skills

Improving language disorders involves a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual's needs. Here are concise steps a speech therapist can take, supported by external resources for in-depth information:

1. Assessment: Conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify the type and severity of the language disorder. ASHA's guidelines on assessing language disorders offer a good starting point.

2. Goal Setting: Based on the assessment, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. The Hanen Centre provides resources on goal setting for language development.

3. Intervention Strategies: Implement evidence-based intervention strategies. Strategies may include but are not limited to, language stimulation techniques, explicit teaching of vocabulary and grammar, and use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. The Leader Live by ASHA discusses various intervention strategies.

4. Family and Educator Involvement: Involve family members and educators in the therapy process to ensure consistency and reinforcement in all environments. The Hanen Centre offers guides for involving families effectively.

5. Use of Technology: Incorporate technology and apps designed to enhance language development. SpeechPathology.com lists current technologies and their applications in speech therapy.

6. Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly review the individual’s progress and adjust the therapy plan as necessary. Continuous assessment tools and adjustment strategies are available through ASHA's Practice Portal.

Remember, improving language disorders is a dynamic process that requires personalized approaches, ongoing assessment, and adaptation to each individual's progress and needs.

How to Display Language Disorders Skills on Your Resume

9. Cognitive-Communication

Cognitive-Communication is a domain that speech therapists address, focusing on the interplay between cognitive processes like attention, memory, and executive functions, and how these influence verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

Why It's Important

Cognitive-communication is crucial for a Speech Therapist because it addresses the complex interplay between thinking skills and communication, enabling individuals to effectively understand, process, and express information, which is essential for successful daily interactions, learning, and overall quality of life.

How to Improve Cognitive-Communication Skills

Improving cognitive-communication, particularly in the context of speech therapy, involves targeted strategies to enhance cognitive functions that support verbal and non-verbal communication. Here's a concise guide:

1. Assessment: Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify specific cognitive-communication deficits. Tools like the Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test can be helpful.

2. Individualized Therapy Plans: Develop personalized therapy plans based on the assessment outcomes. Incorporate exercises that target memory, attention, problem-solving, and executive functions which are crucial for communication.

3. Use of Technology: Integrate apps and software designed for cognitive-communication improvement, such as Constant Therapy which offers personalized tasks.

4. Social Interaction: Encourage participation in group therapy or social activities to practice communication skills in real-life scenarios.

5. Education: Educate patients and their families about cognitive-communication strategies and coping mechanisms. Resources like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offer valuable information.

6. Functional Tasks: Incorporate practical tasks that mimic daily life activities to ensure skills are transferable outside the therapy session.

By focusing on these areas, speech therapists can effectively address cognitive-communication issues, enhancing the patient's ability to communicate effectively.

How to Display Cognitive-Communication Skills on Your Resume

10. Pediatric Feeding

Pediatric feeding, in the context of speech therapy, involves assessing and treating infants and children with difficulties in eating or swallowing, aiming to enhance their ability to safely and effectively feed and develop appropriate feeding behaviors.

Why It's Important

Pediatric feeding is crucial for speech therapists because it addresses the foundational skills necessary for safe and effective swallowing, oral muscle coordination, and development, which are essential for clear speech production and overall communication abilities.

How to Improve Pediatric Feeding Skills

Improving pediatric feeding as a Speech Therapist involves a multi-faceted approach focusing on enhancing oral motor skills, creating a positive mealtime environment, and implementing strategies tailored to the child's specific needs. Here's a concise guide:

1. Assessment: Begin with a comprehensive evaluation of the child's oral motor skills, sensory responses, and feeding behaviors to identify specific challenges. ASHA's guidelines provide a framework for assessment.

2. Oral Motor Training: Use exercises designed to strengthen the muscles involved in feeding. Techniques can include massage, oral motor exercises, and the use of therapeutic tools. The TalkTools approach offers resources and tools for enhancing oral motor skills.

3. Sensory Integration: Implement strategies to address sensory aversions or sensitivities. Gradual exposure to different textures, temperatures, and tastes can be beneficial. The STAR Institute offers insights on sensory processing and feeding.

4. Positive Mealtime Environment: Foster a stress-free, positive mealtime experience. Encourage family meals, offer choices, and avoid pressuring the child to eat. The Feeding Matters organization provides resources on creating a supportive mealtime atmosphere.

5. Collaboration: Work closely with a multidisciplinary team including pediatricians, dietitians, and occupational therapists to address any underlying medical or nutritional issues. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive care.

6. Parent and Caregiver Training: Equip parents and caregivers with strategies and techniques to support feeding at home. Offering practical tips and ongoing support is crucial for progress. The Hanen Centre offers guidance on engaging effectively with children.

7. Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess the child's progress and adjust the intervention plan as needed. This iterative process ensures that the strategies remain aligned with the child's evolving needs.

By integrating these strategies, Speech Therapists can play a pivotal role in improving pediatric feeding, enhancing not just the child's nutritional intake but also their overall development and quality of life.

How to Display Pediatric Feeding Skills on Your Resume

11. SpeechEasy

SpeechEasy is a wearable electronic device designed to help manage stuttering by utilizing delayed auditory feedback and frequency-shifted auditory feedback to improve fluency.

Why It's Important

SpeechEasy is important because it provides immediate fluency improvement for individuals with stuttering issues, serving as a valuable tool in speech therapy to enhance confidence and communication effectiveness.

How to Improve SpeechEasy Skills

To enhance SpeechEasy's effectiveness, a speech therapist can:

1. Customize the Device: Adjust the device settings to match the client's specific needs, focusing on delay and pitch modifications. SpeechEasy Settings.

2. Integrate Therapy: Combine SpeechEasy use with traditional speech therapy techniques to address underlying stuttering behaviors. Combining Approaches.

3. Continuous Monitoring: Regularly assess the client's progress and adjust the device settings accordingly. Monitoring Progress.

4. Feedback Loop: Encourage clients to provide feedback on their experience, using this information to fine-tune therapy and device use. Client-Centered Feedback.

5. Educate and Empower: Educate clients on how to use the device effectively in various speaking situations and empower them with strategies to manage their stuttering. Self-Management Strategies.

By following these steps, speech therapists can optimize the benefits of SpeechEasy for their clients.

How to Display SpeechEasy Skills on Your Resume

12. Teletherapy Platforms

Teletherapy platforms are digital tools and software systems that enable speech therapists to provide assessment, consultation, and intervention services remotely to clients via the internet, facilitating therapy sessions through video conferencing, messaging, and digital resources.

Why It's Important

Teletherapy platforms are essential for speech therapists as they enable the provision of remote, flexible, and accessible therapy services, ensuring continuity of care and support for clients with communication challenges, regardless of their location or mobility constraints.

How to Improve Teletherapy Platforms Skills

Improving teletherapy platforms for speech therapists involves enhancing accessibility, user experience, and therapy outcomes with the following steps:

1. Ensure Accessibility: Incorporate accessible design features to accommodate users with varying abilities, ensuring the platform is easy to navigate for both therapists and clients, including those with hearing, visual, or motor impairments.

2. Integrate Interactive Tools: Embed interactive speech therapy tools that allow for engaging, real-time activities and exercises, fostering a more interactive and effective therapy session.

3. Optimize for All Devices: Ensure the platform is responsive and works seamlessly across all devices (computers, tablets, smartphones) to allow flexible access for sessions from anywhere.

4. Enhance Security and Privacy: Implement robust security measures and adhere to HIPAA guidelines to protect patient information and ensure confidentiality during sessions.

5. Offer Customizable Features: Provide options to customize the platform based on individual therapy needs, allowing speech therapists to tailor the experience for each client's specific goals.

6. Facilitate Easy Communication and Scheduling: Integrate efficient scheduling tools and enable easy communication between therapists and clients through the platform, streamlining the process of setting up and following up on sessions.

7. Incorporate Feedback Mechanisms: Build in methods for collecting feedback from both therapists and clients to continually assess and enhance the platform's effectiveness and user-friendliness.

By focusing on these key areas, teletherapy platforms can significantly improve the delivery and experience of speech therapy services remotely.

How to Display Teletherapy Platforms Skills on Your Resume