Running Head: RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE

PATHOLOGY
1

Community Problem Report: Recruitment & Retention of Speech-Language Pathology

The University of Texas at El Paso
RWS 1301
April 19, 2015
Jordan Allyssabeth Orozco

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Abstract
Communication is a necessity of everyday life, whether for personal relationships, work, or just
making conversation while someone in line at a supermarket. The purpose of Speech-language
pathology is to treat individuals who are unable to communicate and swallow effectively, so that
they may have a little as no problem throughout their daily routines. The demand for speechlanguage pathologists (SLPs) in public school systems continues to skyrocket. Recruiting and
retaining of SLPs in public schools is priority across the nation. However, one of the leading
problems of recruiting SLPs is the workload and caseload. Although speech-language pathology
has an overall positive career outlook, the main reason there are so few is because recruiting and
retaining these individuals is at an all time low. Without SLPs in the public school system
students are left behind and lagging in class due to their specific speech disorder. This
community problem report will provide readers with what they need to be more aware of when it
comes to speech-language pathology as a career and the importance of recruiting and retaining
speech-language pathologists.

Keywords: Effectiveness of Speech Therapy, Public School System, Demand for SLPs,
Recruiting and Retaining

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Introduction
Speech-language pathology is a career that continues to make it way to the top. Not only
is it considered one of the top 50 best jobs in the nation but it is also one of the most satisfying
jobs in America. Individuals must obtain a masters or doctorial degree in speech-language
pathology and receive certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in
order to work with children, teens, and adults to attempt to fix their communication disorders. A
pathologists goal is to get individuals through their everyday life with as little as no
communication problems. A communicative disorder is something and individual can be born
with or may get as a result of an accident or disease. However, with the proper amount of SLPs
in public school systems, a great support system, and intense treatment, communication disorders
can be fixed.
The background of speech-language pathology will be addressed in this paper and itll
give the readers a better understanding of the methods and approaches used today. When
deciding whether or not to pursue speech-language pathology (SLP) as a career one must take
into account what comes with the job. Although there is an overall positive view of the work
SLPs do, there is also a negative side. There is a growing demand for SLPs in the public school
systems but the supply is low. The community problem report will explain what the audience
needs to be aware of when it comes to speech-language pathology as a career and why retaining
and recruiting SLPs is so important.
Background Information on Speech-Language Pathology
Originally, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) were never taken seriously. The first
speech therapists in America werent certified, which only made sense because they didnt have a

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

profession to certify them. Some were considered quacks; people who falsely claimed they had
a secret technique or cure for particular speech disorders, (Duchan, 2002).
Speech-language pathologists had to find a way to gain their legitimacy and experience
as a way of showing they were not just quacks. The first clinicians that were seen as legitimate
by professionals were from already established professions. These professions included
education, medicine, or elocution. Another way that American pathologists gained expertise was
to study the work of established speech clinicians in Europe (Duchan, 2002). European clinicians
were established because they were physicians who practices communication disorders. Another
name for them is speech doctors. A number of clinicians entered the field after developing
techniques for fixing communication problems in themselves or someone they knew on a
personal level (Duchan, 2002).
Being knowledgeable about the history of a future career is so important when deciding
whether to choose that career. Although people originally disagreed with speech-language
pathology being an actual profession there were others that saw it in a different light and gave it
a chance. Finding out and knowing who the predecessors were and what they did can lead to an
understanding of socio-cultural circumstances, it can also allow us to wonder where we would be
if our forebears had taken other paths and made other decisions, (Duchan, 2002).
Importance of Recruiting and Retaining Speech-Language Pathologists
There is a high demand for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) throughout America in
the public school system. The demand is sky high however the supply is very low. An additional
28,800 SLPs will be needed to fill the demand between 2010 and 2020. A 23% increase in job
openings. In occupational projection estimates for 2004 to 2014, speech-language pathology
ranked 17th out of the 20 large-growth occupations that requires a masters, doctoral, or first-

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

professional degree (ASHA, 2004). Recruiting and retaining well-qualified SLPs in public
schools is a priority across the nation. Research and surveys have identified job satisfaction,
workload, and caseload as factors that
affect the recruitment and retention of
school-based SLPs (Edgar & RosaLugo, 2007). Without well-qualified
SLPs in the public school system
students are left lagging behind in
class due to a variety of speech
disorders (Hoffman, Ireland, HallFigure 1. A speech language
pathologist working with a child in the
public school system.

Mills, Flynn, Nippold, &

Marinellie, 2013).

Over the years changes have occurred in the training of communicative disorders, which
have increased demand and shown, ...earlier identification of children with communication
disabilities, the role of SLP in literacy, and increased recognition of the needs of children with
multiple disabilities have resulted in large and oversized caseloads, greater time demands, and
additional workload responsibilities for SLPs, (Edgar & Rosa-Lugo, 2007). Basically, with
more high tech training, pathologists are able to diagnose children earlier thus making their
caseloads larger. The increased size of children seeking therapy results in a very high time
demand from SLPs and more duty on the SLPs part. This is obviously a factor of why the supply
is low for SLPs in public schools.
The national demand for skilled clinicians in public schools combined with the need in
the private sector has exceeded the number of students who are graduating with degrees in

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

communication disorders. To put it into perspective, 15,464 students applied for a masters
program in SLP, only 6,650 made it in, and of those admitted, only 3,733 actually enrolled in the
graduate programs (ASHA, 2014).
Changes are continuing to be made in the public school system not only to make a
difference in the lives of children but in the lives of SLPs wanting to join that particular system.
Readers should be persuaded to want to be a part of this field and join the movement to make a
difference in the lives of children at public schools.
The Effectiveness of Speech Therapy = Retention of Speech-Language Pathologists
There is not a direct answer to whether or not speech therapy actually works; however,
there is a state of knowledge that can be given from the research that has been collected.
Acquired dysphasia is known to have favorable outcomes of language treatment. Studies have
show at an early age children who receive treatment may experience a return of their original
communication disorder. Intensity and effectiveness go hand and hand when it comes to speech
therapy (Enderby & Emerson, 1996, pp. 1655).

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Many factors may affect the

success of an individuals
treatment. These factors
include environment, support
system, and intensity of
treatment. Dysphasic patients
and their relatives require
Figure 2: The graph above shows the improvement in
speech problems (breaks) in 4 participants after a game of
speech therapy.

support and encouragement on

their way to recovery. Speech

and language therapists have helped these patients to communicate more effectively using a
variety of different approaches (Enderby & Emerson, 1996, pp.1655). An individual undergoing
recovery must have a support system that will help keep their treatment intense even when they
are away from the pathologist. The environment must be encouraging and positive in order to
have a successful treatment.
Although dysphasia easier to treat than children with communication disorders, the trails
underway will only improve the diagnosis of communication disorders and treatment for
children. There are two sides on whether speech therapy actually works but if treatment is given
properly the outcome can be very effective (Enderby & Emerson, 1996, pp. 1655).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this community problem report researched the background of speechlanguage pathology (SLP), reasons for the lack of recruitment and retention of SLPs, and how
the effectiveness of speech therapy gives light to the retention of pathologists. Without constant
recruitment and retention of speech-language pathologists in the public school systems, children

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

will be left lagging behind and out of the loop in classrooms. Although speech-language
pathologists take on a huge amount of work and caseload the outcome is satisfactory. If the
nation continues to educate speech-language pathologists in college and have them graduate then
the problem will be resolved. There will be enough SLPs to balance out the caseload. After
reading this community problem report the readers should now be aware of the importance and
reasons for lack of recruitment and retention of pathologists as well as how speech therapy drives
retention levels of SLPs. There are problems in every discourse community, with time, speechlanguage pathology can get back on its feet and continue to lend a helping hand to those in need.

References
Figure 1
Bloomsburg University. (n.d.) Project IMPRESS Intermediate Unit/School
District
Responsibilities. Retrieved from
http://www.bloomu.edu/impress/intermediate

Duchan, J.F. (2002, December 24). What Do You Know About Your Professions
History?
Why Is It Important?. The ASHA Leader. Retrieved from
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2002/021224/021224a.htm

Enderby, P., & Emerson, J. (1996). Speech and Language Therapy: Does It
Work? BMJ:

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

British Medical Journal, Vol. 312, No. 7047, pp. 1655-1658. Retrieved
from http://www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/29732116

Hoffman, L. M., Ireland, M., Hall-Mills, S., Flynn, P., Nippold, M., & Marinellie,
S. (2013).
Evidence-based speech-language pathology practices in schools:
findings from a national survey. EBSCO Host, Vol. 44 Issue 3 p. 266280. Retrieved from
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost

Figure 2
Hoque, M. (2009). Exploring Speech Therapy Games with Children on the Autism Spectrum.
Retrieved from http://src.acm.org/hoque/hoque.htm