Speech therapist - who is he and what is the essence of his profession?

Photo source freepik

Previously, specialists in the field of sound pronunciation correction worked with children who had hearing impairments. Small deviations from the norm were not considered a problem, so the child could pronounce words poorly even before the age of 8, but no attempt was made to correct this. The approach changed only in the 20th century, when the relationship between correct pronunciation and mental development was discovered.

A speech therapist is someone who works with children and helps correct or correct various speech disorders . Representatives of this profession are common in educational institutions.

Speech therapist - who is it and what does he do?

A speech therapist is a specialist who works at the intersection of pedagogy and psychology. His main patients are preschool children. In the process of communication and diagnostics, the speech therapist needs not only to identify the cause of the diction disorder, but also the circumstances that may worsen it.

This profession has another more specialized area of activity, the representatives of which are usually called speech therapist-defectologist. These specialists work with children who have hearing, vision, and intellectual impairments. For this reason, a speech therapist-defectologist also needs to work on the child’s memory, develop his thinking and perception of the world around him .

The job responsibilities of a speech therapist include knowledge of several speech development systems . Therefore, in practice they use interactive devices, for example, toys, sticks, computer games, etc.

For the best effect, speech therapists prefer to work individually. Group classes, which are held in kindergartens, do not allow the correction of serious defects, only minor speech deficiencies.

Often problems with diction are a physical manifestation of psychological problems. And when a speech therapist identifies such a case, he offers a referral to a psychologist whose services will be of great benefit.

It is believed that a speech therapist is someone who works exclusively with children, but this is not true. Adults may also need professional help.

Photo source prostooleh/freepik

Features of the work of a teacher-defectologist

The activities of a professional in the field of defectology depend on his specialization. The child needs his methods when problems arise that cannot be solved during classical education. A defectologist must be an expert in the disorder that is inherent in the child. Namely, in speech, visual, auditory or intellectual. For example, if a speech disorder arose against the background of mental retardation, the leading teacher will be an oligophrenopedagogist.

Let us give a clear example: if a child has hearing problems, the teacher’s work is aimed at developing non-verbal communication. If problems are related to vision, spatial orientation training takes place.

Is a speech therapist a doctor or a teacher?

Quite often there is confusion about the qualifications of speech therapists. Who are they by education: teachers or doctors?

If we are not talking about any pathologies (mental illnesses, mental retardation, deafness, etc.) and diseases, then medical assistance is not required and it is enough for a speech pathologist to have a pedagogical education. Otherwise, the specialist must have a medical diploma as a speech therapist-defectologist in order to be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

In fact, a speech therapist is a related profession that requires knowledge of both raising children and the medical side of the issue.

The main misconceptions of parents:

A child’s speech is formed before the age of 5, so there is no point in contacting a specialist earlier - not all parents can objectively assess the development of a child’s speech. Therefore, it is important to contact a speech therapist for a reliable analysis of the child’s development, whose disorders can begin even at a very young age;
incorrect pronunciation will be eliminated by itself - some speech imperfections (replacing complex articles with simpler ones) can indeed exhaust themselves with age. However, if by the age of 4 the problem still remains, then it must be solved with the help of professional help;
if the child does not speak at all, then a speech therapist will not help here - a speech therapist deals with speech production in the broadest understanding of the word. His work is carried out at all levels of the speech system, including the psychological aspect;
You can take care of your child without outside help - many parents who decide to teach their child personally do not even suspect that their own phonetics are not entirely correct. The speech therapist will show you correct pronunciation and effective training exercises;
To achieve results, 1-2 sessions with a speech therapist are enough - the course of speech correction is determined on an individual basis. One child will really only need a couple of lessons, while another child will need long courses to correct the problem.

You and your children can undergo all studies and necessary consultations at the Caring Doctor Clinic. You can make an appointment by calling 244-88-74, 8-951-661-77-44

Speech therapist at the Caring Doctor clinic

Job responsibilities of a speech therapist

The list of specialist responsibilities includes:

patient diagnosis;
work to eliminate or correct speech defects;
development of administrations and classes;
collaboration with colleagues who have “related” specialties;
work with special documentation.

In order to work competently in this area you need to know:

fundamentals of pedagogy;
basics of psychology;
fundamentals of defectology;
articulation training techniques;
principles of massage.

The responsibilities of a speech therapist at school are not limited to just rote learning the correct way to pronounce sounds. The specialist must create a favorable and cozy atmosphere for the student so that he can feel comfortable and trust the teacher.

How much do they get

Each speech therapist has his own approach to working with patients, which affects the effectiveness of the treatment they provide. This factor has a great influence on the level of earnings of a specialist. At the initial stage of his career, such an employee receives 20-30 thousand rubles.

As his professionalism grows, he can already choose his place of work. If in budgetary organizations defectologists are paid 35-45 thousand rubles, then in private companies their earnings reach 60-70 thousand rubles. Professionals running private practices earn from 80 thousand rubles if they have a client base and proper organization of work.

[salary]

Requirements for a speech therapist

Persons who meet the following requirements can work as a speech therapist:

specialized completed education;
ability to establish contact with children;
availability of a medical record;
no medical contraindications.

Some employers often require specialists to have training certificates in the following areas:

"Defectology".
"Psychology".
“Oligophrenopedagogy”, etc.

Key points in drawing up instructions

The domestic regulatory framework does not specify the parameters for creating instructions. Therefore, when writing it, employers focus on adapting standard instructions for their needs, in accordance with the principles of office work. These samples are available in two versions: standard and extended.

Mandatory parts of the standard instructions:

Common parameters.
Professional features.
Potential Liability.
Job opportunities.

This type of instruction is used for most workers, especially in small and medium-sized organizations. In large institutions, as well as when writing instructions for management-level employees, an extended version is used. It adds to the standard sections:

Features of work activity.
Rules for performance assessment (KPI).
Parameters of job interactions.
Instruction conversion order.

The expanded format allows you to formalize a larger number of labor parameters. The price for this is a reduction in the flexibility of labor relations.

Basic provisions

The introductory part lists the requirements for the candidate’s qualifications, the parameters of his personnel interactions (the procedure for hiring, dismissal, replacement), and the provisions that he should focus on in his work.

The main role is played by the required skills, which are required to ensure that the functions given in the next section are performed at a high level. And criteria based on experience and education make it possible to screen out candidates with an insufficient level of training.

Attention! Job descriptions can be drawn up either in a standard manner or individually. In the first case, the instructions are suitable for any specialist in a certain position, and in the second, they are written for a specific highly qualified worker.

Functions

This part describes the responsibilities assigned to the specialist. There are several conditional groups of these responsibilities:

The main ones are typical for the profession of any employer.
Auxiliary - complement the main functions; their scope and complexity depend on the policies and characteristics of the employing organization.
Basic - included in instructions for any profession: compliance with fire and technical safety standards, labor discipline, etc.

If an employer provides an employee with any valuables (tools, clothes for work, etc.), then the need to treat them with care is specifically mentioned.

Responsibility

This part is reserved for listing possible violations and penalties. Since responsibility is built on the basis of current legislation, the scope and diversity of which take it beyond the scope of the instructions, the section is compiled in a truncated form, with a small amount of specifics.

Rights

The section describes rights additional to those already granted to the employee in Art. 21 TK. As a general rule, the greater the responsibility of an employee, the greater the opportunities he has.

Working conditions

This section is added if the employer wants to identify some specific features in work activity. Traditionally, this includes additional benefits: training at the expense of the employer, free branded clothing, etc. If the work involves a non-standard work schedule, then this point is stated in this section.

Before being put into effect, the instruction must go through a number of approval stages:

The initially drafted version is shown to a lawyer specializing in labor law and the head of the personnel department.
The version with their edits is agreed upon with relevant specialists in the area for which the instructions are being drawn up.
The final version is printed on company letterhead, including official attributes (date of compilation, details of the organization, etc.), and sent for signature to those persons who approved its content.
At the final stage, signatures are placed by the head of the employing organization and the employee for whom the instructions were written.

Attention! The employee has the right to request from the HR department his copy of the instruction, which can be issued in paper or electronic format. In the second option, personal information is first deleted from it.

Place of work and working conditions of a speech therapist

The specialty is in demand not only in educational institutions, but also in healthcare organizations.

These include:

kindergartens, including correctional and specialized ones;
schools;
institutions for children with serious disabilities;
hospitals and clinics;
private centers, etc.

Most often, a specialist has his own office, equipped for conducting individual or group classes. Since the main work of a speech therapist is related to educational institutions, his work schedule is a five-day work week , taking into account all school holidays and public holidays.

Where can I find an experienced speech therapist?

The key to a child’s rapid and effective development is a well-chosen speech therapist with years of experience and dozens of reviews behind him. The Center for Restorative Medicine employs a specialist with extensive experience and continuous development in his field. Our clients include not only children, but also people who have suffered from strokes and severe traumatic brain injuries.

Here you and your child will be helped to forget about any problem: developmental delay, violation of the sequence of sounds, stuttering. In addition to serious psychophysical disorders, speech therapists are ready to tackle your unaesthetic speech and incorrect diction.

You can find out about the cost of admission on the website or by calling +7 (8552) 78-09-35, +7 (953) 482-66-62.

Training for the profession of speech therapist

Only a specialist with appropriate education can work as a speech therapist. Professional training to become a speech therapist can only be completed at universities that have a psychological or pedagogical profile. The duration of study is approximately four years, and applicants have the opportunity to study in several formats: full-time, part-time or evening.

A speech therapist needs to regularly take advanced training courses . Today, many of them are presented in a distance format, thanks to which a specialist can combine training with work.

5 universities where you can undergo professional training to become a speech therapist:

Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis.
North Caucasus Federal University.
Moscow City Pedagogical University.
Kazan (Volga region) Federal University.
Russian State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Herzen.

Photo source freepik

Speech pathologist-defectologist: where to study in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

Reading time: 7 minutes(s) Often a person with speech impairments feels inferior in society and cannot communicate freely with other people. Such deficiencies cannot be hidden; they can only be dealt with with the help of speech therapists.

The profession of a speech therapist involves working with both adults and young children, so it remains in demand in the labor market, important and irreplaceable.

Who is a speech therapist: what do you need to know about the profession?

A speech therapist helps correct speech using special exercises, speech therapy massage or other methods that improve articulation. This is a specialist who also studies all the reasons and methods for correcting speech.

The profession is quite new, so modern speech therapists not only know numerous methods and methods for correcting speech defects, but also study the basics of psychology, which help them identify the root cause of the defect. Since speech defects occur at any age, the approach to treating children and adults is strikingly different.

Tasks and Responsibilities

To eliminate speech defects, a speech therapist must determine the cause of their occurrence. At the same time, he also pays attention to the level of human development - how literate he is, to what extent his vocabulary is rich. A good speech therapist knows everything about the correct position of the lips and tongue when speaking; he knows a lot of tongue twisters and exercises for working on speech. These skills are used when seeing patients.

The speech therapist conducts classes with clients both individually and in groups.

Work and salary

The position of a speech therapist is provided in educational and medical institutions - kindergartens, hospitals, clinics, specialized rehabilitation and correction centers. An experienced specialist can also open his own private speech therapy office or become a home speech therapist, working with families at home.

The salaries of speech therapists in government institutions are low, ranging from 15-20,000 rubles. Private institutions in large cities usually offer higher salaries.

Pros and cons of the profession

Of course, the main advantage of the job is the opportunity to help people. However, in addition to this, there are a number of other advantages:

the opportunity to conduct private practice and earn a higher income;
demand in the labor market;
lack of concept of retirement age.

Reviews indicate that the work also has its drawbacks:

huge expenditure of emotional and physical strength;
the need to maintain a large amount of various documentation.

How to become a speech pathologist-defectologist?

To master this specialty, it is necessary to obtain a higher pedagogical education in the field of Speech Therapy and the qualification of a teacher-speech therapist. You can start mastering this profession by studying at a college or technical school in the direction of “Psychology” or “Pedagogy”.

What skills are needed?

For a specialist in this field, such personal qualities as attention, patience and diplomacy are important. People who speak with disabilities are often embarrassed by their shortcomings, so you need to be extremely correct when communicating with them.

A speech therapist must be a skilled psychologist in order to identify the causes of patients’ speech problems and help them cope with emerging complexes. Since he often has to work with children, it is important that he knows how to find a common language with young patients.

What education is needed and where can I go?

You can study to become a speech therapist at almost any pedagogical university, on the basis of which the department of speech therapy or the faculty of defectology operates. It is important to understand that choosing this profession means a willingness to constantly learn - it is necessary to frequently take advanced training courses and study new techniques for correcting speech defects.

Graduates of 9th grade can graduate from a pedagogical college in order to continue receiving education at a university.

What do you need to submit to a speech therapist?

To enter a university or secondary educational institution, you will need to pass exams in the Russian language, history or social studies. Depending on the specific educational institution, graduates may be asked to take tests in other subjects (mathematics or biology).

Is it difficult and worth learning?

Like any other profession, at the stage of mastery, the specialty of a speech therapist requires effort to obtain all the necessary knowledge and competencies. Nevertheless, for a person who has firmly decided to connect his activities with speech therapy, training, as a rule, comes easily.

How long does it take to study to become a speech therapist after grades 9 and 11?

Graduates of 9th grade who decide to begin acquiring a profession by studying at a secondary specialized educational institution will have to study at a technical school, school or college for 2 years 10 months or 3 years 10 months, depending on the training program.

The higher education system involves studying for 4 years as part of a bachelor's program and 5 years as a specialist.

Is distance learning possible?

Many retraining courses, advanced training, trainings and seminars for speech therapists are conducted remotely. It is also possible to study to become a speech therapist by correspondence on the basis of higher education.

Is it possible to work as a speech therapist after retraining courses?

It is possible to work as a speech therapist after retraining courses if the specialist already has a psychological or pedagogical education.

A professional from another field who wants to master this area must first graduate from a specialized university and receive an education.

Where to go to study?

At the moment, in Russia there are many options for educational institutions that provide the opportunity to master the specialty of speech therapist.

Universities and academies

In Moscow, higher education in the specialty “Speech therapist” can be obtained at several universities.

Russian New University. This is a non-state educational institution that trains specialists in the field of speech therapy. There are budget places, the contract cost is 140,000 rubles per year. Training lasts 4 years.
Moscow State Regional University. Provides special education on a budgetary basis. The contract price is 228,500 rubles.
Moscow Psychological and Social University. Offers defectological education in the “Speech Therapy” profile. There are no budget places, the cost of the contract is from 100,000 rubles per year.
Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis. A non-state university trains speech therapists and speech pathologists at the undergraduate level. The contract price is 990,000 per year.
Moscow City Pedagogical University. The direction “Speech Therapy” is presented here at the Faculty of Psychology. There are budget places, there is contract training, which costs 208,000 rubles.

In St. Petersburg there are also universities that train speech therapists and defectologists.

St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University. A state educational institution with 10 budget places in the field of defectology and speech therapy. The cost of the contract is 98,000 rubles.
Leningrad State University named after A. S. Pushkin. Training of clinical speech therapists is carried out on the basis of a bachelor's degree. There are budget places and a contract form of education - 121,000 rubles.
Institute of Special Pedagogy and Psychology. This is a non-state university, so there are no budget places here. The cost of the contract is from 134,000 rubles.
Russian State Pedagogical Institute named after Herzen. It produces specialists in the fields of deaf pedagogy, oligophrenopedagogy, special psychology and speech therapy. Training is provided at the expense of budget funds.
St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician Pavlov. Conducts general training on the basis of a bachelor's degree. Budget places are available, as well as contract training costing 235,000 rubles.

Colleges and technical schools

Secondary specialized education related to mastering the profession of a speech therapist in Moscow can be obtained in several technical schools and colleges.

International College of Arts and Communications. Specialists are trained on the basis of grades 9 and 11, the duration of training is 46 months. Budget places are not provided, the cost of the contract is from 200,000 rubles.
College of the Russian State Social University. The training of specialists takes 46 months, the cost of the contract is from 88,000.
Medical College No. 7. Teaches students in a general profile on the basis of 11th and 9th grade. Preparation lasts 46 months, budget places are available.
Pedagogical College No. 10. Graduates specialists in the field of “Correctional pedagogy in primary education.” Duration of training – 34 months, cost – from 48,000 rubles.
Pedagogical College No. 15. Conducts training in the direction of “Special preschool education”. Training takes place on a contract basis - from 40,000 rubles.

In St. Petersburg you can also get secondary specialized education as a speech therapist.

Pedagogical College No. 1. Provides several programs of different directions with budget places. The training takes 2 years 10 months, the cost of the contract is from 80,000 rubles.
Pedagogical College No. 8. Graduates specialists in grades 9 and 11, duration of study is from 34 months, cost - from 87,000 rubles.
Pedagogical College No. 4. Training of specialists is carried out on the basis of 9th grade in the direction of “Special preschool education”. There are budget places, as well as a contract form of education (106,000 rubles).
Gatchina Pedagogical College named after Ushinsky. Recruits applicants for training in the field of Speech Therapy. The program is designed for 2 years and 10 months, there are budget places.
Northwestern Institute of Management of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation. This educational institution allows students of the 9th grade to master the training program for further enrollment in the direction of “Social work”. Preparation lasts 1.5 years, its cost is from 40,000 rubles.

Advanced training courses for speech therapists

Beginning specialists can improve their qualifications in Moscow through the programs of several educational institutions.

Educational. Provides the opportunity to take courses with further receipt of certificates, certificates and diplomas. Depending on the program and teacher, the price of the course may vary (on average from 2,000 rubles per lesson). Further employment at the base is possible.
International Social and Humanitarian Institute. Offers seminars and courses in certified programs. The cost of classes depends on the specific direction and duration of the course.
Educational and methodological portal. Provides the opportunity to take online seminars and intensive courses for speech therapists and inclusive education teachers. Course price – from 3,000, duration – from 72 hours.
Humanitarian Academy of Social Workers. Advanced training is available here thanks to programs in the field of children's speech. Course price – 4,500 rubles, duration – from 72 hours.
Distance learning system "Pedagogical Campus". Offers advanced training in the specialty “Teacher-speech therapist” in absentia using remote technologies. The training lasts 3 days, its cost is from 5,000 rubles.

In St. Petersburg, you can take advanced training courses at some universities and private educational institutions.

Innovation Center for Continuing Education. Offers several training programs lasting from 2 days. The price of the course with subsequent issuance of a diploma is from 3,000.
St. Petersburg National Open University. Conducts advanced training courses for social workers lasting from 5 days. The cost of the course is from 5,000 rubles.
Institute of Vocational Education. Provides an opportunity to improve the skills of social workers. The cost of one lesson is from 2,000 rubles.
Humanitarian and Technical University. Offers confirmation or improvement of qualifications in a number of areas for teachers. Course cost from 4,200, duration – 2 weeks.
Institute of Childhood SPbAPPO. At the Department of Special Pedagogy, course participants are given the opportunity to improve their qualifications in 72 hours. The form of training is distance learning, the cost is 5,000 rubles.

Professional retraining on the basis of higher education

You can get a diploma of professional retraining on the basis of higher education in Moscow at several educational institutions.

IT Academy. Offers retraining programs for the basic course. The duration of training is from 2 months, the cost is up to 40,900 rubles.
. Gives you the opportunity to master a new specialty in 3-4 months. The cost of preparation is 40,000 rubles.
Institute of Vocational Education. Conducts enrollment in courses within the general program of social pedagogy. Cost – 29,000, duration – 1 month.
Educational. Offers advanced training for speech therapists and social workers. Price from 20,000 rubles, duration from 2 weeks.
Center for professional development "Proficareer". Offers several programs for professionals working in educational institutions. Cost – from 7,000, duration from 1 month.

In St. Petersburg, you can get retraining at several private educational institutions.

Center for Creative Pedagogy and Psychology. Provides the opportunity to retrain in several areas. The cost of the course is from 40,000 rubles, duration is from 3 months.
Educational. The practical course “Fundamentals of Speech Therapy” is conducted in 160 hours, based on the results of the training, a certificate is issued, the price of the course is 17,000 rubles.
Educational and methodological portal. Conducts professional retraining of teachers, methodologists and educators. The duration of training is from 520 hours, the cost is from 10,000 rubles.
Unified personnel training center. Conducts distance learning courses for speech therapists. There is the possibility of short-term training, as well as mastering an extended program. Duration – from 3 months, cost – from 28,000.
Institute of Postgraduate Education of Pedagogical Workers. Conducts distance retraining for teachers, educators and educators. The cost of the course is from 6,700 rubles, duration – 3 months (580 hours).

Thus, the profession of a speech therapist is considered quite prestigious and in demand in society. Such specialists can work in government agencies or open their own speech therapy office. In order to succeed in this profession, you need to know the basics of pedagogy, child psychology, some aspects of anatomy and medicine.

Did this article help you? We would be grateful for your rating:

5 0

What qualities are needed?

Speech therapist is a rather interesting job that requires perseverance. The process of correcting speech is a long one; it is impossible to achieve significant success in a short period of time. In addition, representatives of this profession often work with very young children, whom they need to be able to keep busy.

A good speech therapist must simultaneously combine several professional characteristics. It should be:

an excellent psychologist - each student needs his own approach;
a patient teacher - no one will be able to pronounce a problem sound perfectly in the first few lessons;
an experienced doctor - in order to solve the problem, you need to recognize what exactly requires adjustment or treatment.

In addition, the profession requires documentation. A good specialist always has many clients and each one applies his own methodology, the progress of which must be carefully monitored and recorded - therefore such a person must have at least basic information about self-organization.