Armenian Speech Therapists’ Association

Professional Profile
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this document is to define and describe the scope of practice and relevant
terminology for the profession of Speech-Language Pathology in Armenia. It is intended to
inform government agencies, educators, employers, healthcare providers, other professionals,
and the general public about the roles of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) across various
work settings, as well as about client populations that SLPs work with. It should be noted,
however, that the field of speech-language pathology is dynamic and ever-evolving; therefore,
this document is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, and should be periodically
updated in light of emerging clinical, technological and scientific developments.

Who is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

A Speech-Language Pathologist (also known as a Speech Therapist or Speech & Language

Therapist) is an autonomous professional who is the primary care provider of speech-language
pathology services. Autonomy within the profession indicates that services are not prescribed or
supervised by another professional. The overall objective of speech-language pathology
services is to optimize individuals' abilities to communicate and to swallow, thereby improving
quality of life

Professional Education Requirements of a Speech-Language Pathologist in Armenia

In order to practice as a SLP in Armenia, candidates must hold a valid higher education degree
from an accredited university. The official document must indicate graduation from a speech-
language pathology program. Furthermore, SLPs must complete and acquire ongoing
continuing education units (CEUs) throughout the course of their career.

The professional education of a Speech-Language Pathologist, as defined by Chapter 1, Article

3, Part 1 of the LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ON ADVANCED AND POST-
GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, refers to a higher level of education wherein
learners gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles, and
practices associated with the speech-language pathology profession. This education aims to
provide learners with the necessary knowledge, techniques, and practical skills to effectively
practice as speech therapists and appropriately apply their acquired knowledge in real-world
settings.

Post-graduation, SLP’s must continue to supplement their understanding of the profession by

engaging in continuing professional development. Practicing as a SLP is a lifelong learning
process, and continuing education will help maintain, develop and expand the scope of their
knowledge, abilities and skills necessary for a professional career.

Work Settings

SLPs may provide services in a variety of settings, including medical (i.e. hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, home health, private practice), educational (i.e.
Kindergarten, preschool, schools, universities), and social services (nursing home, care center,
orphanage) . In order to practice within each domain, SLPs must complete a practical online
course and acquire a certificate of completion related to the particular practice setting.

Service Delivery Areas

SLP’s specialize in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of various
communication and swallowing disorders and differences. Patient populations consist of
individuals across the lifespan. Service delivery for the SLP encompasses a wide range of
areas, including:

★ Fluency and Speech Production (i.e. articulation, motor planning, fluency, phonology).
★ Language (i.e. literacy, syntax, semantics, phonology, morphology, and other areas).
★ Cognition (i.e. attention, memory, problem solving, executive functioning, etc.).
★ Voice (i.e. phonation quality, pitch, loudness, alaryngeal disorders).
★ Resonance (i.e. hypernasality, hyponasality, cul-de-sac resonance, forward focus).
★ Feeding and Swallowing (i.e. all three phases of swallowing—oral, pharyngeal and
esophageal; atypical eating disorders, including food refusal and negative physiologic
responses).
★ Auditory Habilitation/Rehabilitation (i.e. hearing loss, deafness, auditory processing).
 ★ Elective Services (i.e. specialized focuses such as business communication, dialectical
change, accent modification).
Additional Terminology:

Norms of speech development: patterns of speech development that are universal for the
given age groups of a given region in a given period, which are defined on the basis of
standardized research.

Speech and phonetic disorder: Deviation from the norm of speech development in the speech
environment characteristic of a given language, which can be during the formation of speech or
already formed speech and is expressed by difficulties in pronunciation, speech reproduction,
speech fluency or speech perception.

Communication disorder: a disorder of the ability to receive, communicate, process, perceive

concepts, verbal, non-verbal and/or graphic symbol systems.

Swallowing disorder: Dysphagia is a medical term that refers to a swallowing disorder where
individuals have difficulty or inability to move food, liquids, or saliva from the mouth to the
stomach.5

Voice disorder: the inconsistency of the quality, pitch and intensity of the voice that disturbs the
individual according to his age, gender, cultural origin and geographical location.

Clinical Speech Pathologist: a specialist who has a professional education and directly works
to habilitate or rehabilitate people with communication or swallowing disorders.

Theoretical Speech Pathologist: an individual who has received professional training in the
field of speech-language pathology but does not directly work with individuals who have
communication or swallowing disorders in any practical capacity. Instead, they focus on
developing ideas, theories, and conceptual frameworks related to the subject matter. They may
contribute to the field through research, writing, teaching, and academic pursuits.

Speech-Language Pathology Student: a person receiving professional education who studies

at an educational institution.

Professional Competence: a comprehensive combination of knowledge, abilities, and skills

that are essential for delivering high-quality professional services in a particular field. It
encompasses the proficiency and effectiveness that individuals need to effectively perform their
job responsibilities and contribute positively to their chosen profession.

Evidence-Based Professional Practice: the integration of clinical expertise and expert

opinion, external and internal evidence, and patient/client/caregiver perspectives.

Speech Pathology Assessment: a systematic process used to evaluate and diagnose a range
of difficulties related to communication and swallowing, including but not limited to, speaking,
understanding, reading, and writing in individuals of various age groups. This assessment is a
crucial initial step in speech-language pathology, guiding the development of appropriate
intervention plans tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

Speech therapy support / treatment: the habilitation or rehabilitation of speech, language,

communication, swallowing voice difficulties.It can be on-site or remote and alternative assistive
technologies can be used during support. (2)

Habilitative Speech Therapy: specifically designed to facilitate the development of new

speech, language, communication, and speech-related skills in an individual. The primary goal
of habilitation is to maximize their functional abilities and improve their overall communication
capabilities. (2)

Rehabilitative Speech Therapy: designed to offer individuals the opportunity to recover or

enhance their speech, language, communication, and swallowing abilities that have been
affected by various diseases, injuries, or conditions. The primary goal of rehabilitative therapy is
to restore or improve the individual's functional communication and swallowing abilities,
enabling them to regain independence and engage more effectively in daily life. (2)

Telepractice/Remote Speech Therapy: support, practice, or treatment is a service model that

utilizes telecommunications and internet technologies to provide speech therapy services to
individuals who are not physically present with the speech therapist. This approach allows
professionals to deliver their expertise and interventions in a virtual environment, making
therapy accessible to individuals who may have limitations in attending in-person sessions.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): a range of methods and tools that
individuals use to communicate when verbal speech is challenging or not possible. AAC serves
as a supplement or alternative to spoken language, allowing people to express themselves,
convey their needs, and interact with others effectively. AAC can be non-tech, low-tech and
high-tech.

Ethics in Speech Therapy: a collection of established and accepted principles and guidelines
that dictate the appropriate and professional behavior of speech therapists. These ethical
standards serve as a framework to ensure the well-being, rights, and dignity of individuals
receiving speech therapy services, as well as to maintain the integrity and reputation of the
profession.

Continuing Professional Development: supplemental education that Speech-Language

Pathologists must engage in post-graduation in order to maintain, develop and expand the
scope of their knowledge, abilities and skills necessary for a professional career.

Professional Guide: an official document that has been approved by the relevant council. It
outlines and provides guidance on the standards, principles, and best practices within a specific
profession. This guide has undergone a comprehensive process that includes training, qualified
testing, and approval to ensure its accuracy and reliability.

Professional Standards for a Speech-Language Pathologist: define the baseline level of

performance required for conducting professional activities effectively and ethically. These
standards are established to ensure that the professional's work is evidence-based, follows best
practices, and adheres to ethical norms that prioritize the well-being of clients and maintain the
integrity of the profession.

Speech Therapy Professional Association: professional, non-governmental organizations

that act as an "umbrella" for specialists (in this case, Speech-Language Pathologists), and can
carry out continuing education, advocacy and other functions not prohibited by law for the
statutory purposes of the respective association.
References:

1) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (1970). Scope of practice in speech-

language pathology. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
https://www.asha.org/policy/sp2016-00343/
2) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Speech-Language Pathology
Medical Review Guidelines. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
https://www.asha.org/practice/reimbursement/slp-medical-review-guidelines/

3) European Speech and Language Therapy Association. (2019). ESLA Professional Profile.
https://eslaeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ESLA-Statement-on-SLT-Professional-
Profile-UPDATED.pdf

4) The Guide to the ASHA Speech Pathology Scope of Practice. CORP-MSL0 (SPMP). (2022,
May 4). https://speechpathologymastersprograms.com/speech-pathology-careers/asha-scope-
of-practice-speech-pathology/

4) World Health Organization. (2014). International Classification of Functioning, Disability and

Health. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/