A question about speech therapy (speech pathology)?

Question

Here's some basic info that I've found that sticks out in my mind :

-The admission to graduate school is really competitive

-There seems to be a shortage of speech-language pathologists, so the outlook is good.

So, with this is mind, why is the pay average? Pharmacists make a lot more, and it's a lot more of them than speech-pathologists.

Can anyone explain the mediocrity associated with the high demand for these professionals?

Answer 1

One thing is that the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is BEYOND being unhelpful in raising not only public awareness of the profession, but the dire need for, and benefit of, having well-qualified speech pathologists in the medical setting. How many public service announcements have you seen on TV or in print, or on the radio? I think I've seen ONE in the past 5 years.

Another problem is the low standards set by ASHA for passing the national exam. 60% is passing, so theoretically, a "D" student can be certified. This put a bunch of folks out there who shouldn't be. I passed it in the 96th percentile, and it took me 5 whole years of practice before I felt like I fully knew what I was doing.

In almost EVERY hospital and nursing home I worked in in a 20-year career, not only was it an uphill battle to educate physicians (exceptions were neurologists, neurosurgeons, and ENTs), but allied professions and nursing, too; even in major teaching hospitals.

In one teaching hospital where I worked, the rehab department was getting about 3 referrals PER WEEK. By the time I moved on 1 1/2 years later, the minimum number was 6 per DAY. Too bad I was already at the top of the pay scale with no room for a raise or professional advancement.

Many physicians have had such bad experiences with idiotic speech pathologists that they had stopped referring their patients. I've seen lots who have given the profession a bad name. and for very good reasons.

Third-party reimbursement (insurance company payments) is very poor for speech pathology services. which has a serious impact on a hospital or nursing home's bottom line. Because of this, they don't pay their speech pathologists what they are worth in preventing recurrent admissions due to pneumonia suffered by patients with a swallowing disorder (among other things). ASHA isn't much help there, either.

Lots of speech pathologists enter the school system-- the last count I heard was it around 70%

We are relegated to a teacher's salary. Granted, you get paid a bit more because of the master's degree, but it keeps average wages down. People like the amount of paid time off, the benefits, and a relatively short workday.

Even though ASHA pays a congessional lobbyist, Congress has been less than supportive by enacting Medicare "reform" When that happened 9 years ago, I took a 50% pay cut because my hours were reduced (and I was the director of the speech pathology service!). Quite a hit from $70,000 to just $35,000. That has since been repealed.

It's a fascinating profession, and I must say I was never bored. I'm hoping the professional "culture" has gotten better since I retired. I know it's become far more technical due to the most recent scope of practice changes. Perhaps speech pathologists will ultimately garner more respect because of that.

Check out salary.com. It's really not as bad as you think.