What is a Speech Pathologist?

A speech pathologist has been trained to assess and treat people who have communication difficulties including speech clarity & sentences, understanding & listening, writing, reading, signs, symbols and gestures. Speech pathologists also work with people who have difficulties swallowing food and drink.

Speech pathologists complete a degree at university that encompasses the identification and treatment of all communication difficulties and covers broader areas of science including aspects of anatomy & physiology, developmental psychology, linguistics and education.

Speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists were formerly known as speech therapists. They are different from speech and drama teachers.

SpeechNet Speech Pathologists are members of Speech Pathology Australia; the National professional body for the profession.