I’m not sure this is the right place to post this but I figured I would try.

Hi, I have had a speech impediment since I was little (33 now) and I’ve always struggled with it and dealing with people who don’t take the time to actually listen to me or just get frustrated with me whenever they don’t understand. I do come across a few rare people who can understand me right away and some who just can’t get it at all even after being around me for a while…I watch a lot of YouTube gaming videos, how to videos and stuff like that and I have made a few videos where I did text to speech and text overlays on my videos and they came out ok but I would really like to somehow speak myself in my videos or not have to go by a script and then add captions in post editing. My wife tells me to just go and try to do a video with just my own voice and see what happens but I just can’t get myself to do it. I guess I’m to worried about what others will think and say. I guess I’m looking for any advice to overcome that fear or tools to help me make videos without feeling like I’m just reading off a script.

Thanks in advance!

I’m hearing more and more clinicians move away from teaching stuttering strategies (cancellation, easy on set, light contact, etc). Because there’s this idea that “we tell them it’s okay to stutter, but then we go and teach them all these ways to avoid stuttering.” Basically, I’ve been hearing this more and more, and it seems like there may be a movement starting in the stuttering world! What’s your take on this?

I'm a CF at an SLP-owned contract company. My CF supervisor has never come down to observe me in person and I'm halfway through my second segment. We've only done a few online observations. I have basically been left to my own devices for the past 7 months. I feel apathetic and had no idea what I was doing at the begging of the year. I'm just teaching myself along the way and asking other SLPs questions when they are around. I have been complimented on my report-writing skills and good feedback from colleagues. So, I guess I'M OK?

I'm at multiple sites, so I feel very isolated since I'm never at one site too long. It's not an option to leave because it's possible none of my hours will count if I dip out mid-school year. I'm no longer excited about this field at all. I would never want to do private practice (doesn't suit my lifestyle). I don't want to do the medical side because what's available is all SNF and I hated dysphagia. EI might be an option but I don't like working with that age group.

My caseload is small and the workload is very manageable. I am paid well. Although, I do feel like my CF has been a bust. Is there even enough time to meet all the ASHA required hours? Couldn't my supervisor decide not to approve any of my hours with ASHA. That would sting because I've worked my ass off.

Hi!

My school district has offered the EC SLPs in my building the position of evaluating incoming pk students full-time. (Both of my SLP coworkers said they aren’t interested but I said I’d think about it.)

Details: Evaluations + equivalent of one day a week of therapy, with a caseload of 15~

I’m super happy with my job there now, where I am an SLP doing pk treatment full-time. However, I’m considering the opportunity. Right now my caseload is ~40 4-year-olds and all 3-year re-evals for those students. If I were to take the evaluator position, I would see/manage about 15 students on my caseload and handle the initial evaluations/screenings for the EC building. I would write up assessments and work closely with the SPED director. The treating therapists write the IEPs.

Does anyone have any insight/experience/pros cons with this? Which do you prefer- therapy each day or completing evaluations?

Any input would help!

do they have to be to the minute accurate, or is it okay to guesstimate? My hours are usually in increments of 5 (ex: language 20 minutes, artic 10 minutes), so I'm not sure if that'll look weird later on? Should it be more specific/weird numbers like 17 mins, 13 mins, 8 mins, etc?

I'm an SLP in Texas and submitted for my CCCs and State licensure about a week ago. I was wondering if anyone knew how processing times are going right now for ASHA and TDLR. I called ASHA and they told me about 6 weeks after they have received everything (They confirmed that they have as of 2/27/2023).

Thanks!

I’m finishing up a SLP master’s and currently trying to figure out where I want to work.

My partner is Japanese and we would like to live in Japan, but the SLP market for English speakers is quite limited (5-8 hours/week in schools). I see many remote jobs for teletherapy, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the feasibly of living abroad part/full-time with a remote teletherapy position? I’m a resident of CA and when I lived in Japan before, I was still required to fill state and federal taxes… so on paper, I am a California resident no matter where I live.

I'm honestly just curious what everyone else's therapy "space" looks like. Right now I am sharing a room with every other support service provider with no doors or partitions. I'm learning that having my own room is going to be a rarity in this field.

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Some background: I’m working with a 6 year old at school with suspected apraxia of speech. He’s had speech for going on 3 years (2 with another therapist) and has made very minimal progress. He only consistently produces /m, w, b/ with /p/ in final positions of words and is slowly starting to get /n/. He does have a lot of functional words (go, no, dad) but can't produce the sounds in new words with max cues/prompts. He is really good with using gestures to get his point across and likes to talk to others. ’m also using TD Snap Core First to support verbal speech. Teachers can typically get enough of his meaning that they don't use the printed communication boards and talking with parents has been inconsistent, though I have talked with them about outside speech and purchasing a communication app to use at home/school. Unfortunately with working in schools I can’t officially refer/recommend outside speech (🙄) and only have my personal iPad to model the app.

The previous SLP used Kauffman, but he didn't really make any gains with it over 2 years and I couldn't find a lot of research support for continuing to use it. I’m currently using ReST with him. Over the past three months of using it, his teachers are noticing improvement and he has more intelligible words overall! That being said, I need some advice on what to do next. After reading through their provided clinician manual/videos and reading research on the treatment method, I started out with 2-syllable words using the consonants he can produce (m, w, b and n as the 'harder' one). He is around 55% accurate independently / 70% accurate with feedback and a second attempt with the current words. Should I stay with 2-syllable words and change out the consonant sounds to increase his inventory? Or should I increase the complexity to 3-syllable words with the current consonants and work on production of other consonants separately? The information provided by the University of Sydney talks about increasing complexity through multisyllabic words then to carrier phrases, but not about adding new consonants. Does anyone have any experience with ReST that could provide next steps? Or anything else I can try with him? I started off the year with DTTC and incorporating motor principles into production of different word structures, but his productions completely fall apart for words he knows. Any advice is appreciated! I'm a CF this year and he is definitely one of my trickier kids.

I am about to graduate with my BS SLP degree. I got waitlisted for the only program that I applied to and I was just wondering what my other options are. I’m not 100% sure that I want to do speech, but I feel like I’ve come too far to change paths. Does anyone know someone who got their undergrad in SLP but is doing something else?

Anyone with their board certification specifically - childhood language and language disorders (BCS-CL). I currently work in the schools (14yrs) but I am hoping to transition to academics, clinical faculty at a University. I also will be starting my SLPD this summer. Not sure if it worth pursuing and maintaining.

I'm feeling kinda emo about missing my co-workers from my last school. We were 3 therapists with a grad student intern full time 5 days a week in that room. We worked really well together and supported each other fully at all times, sharing a tiny space and rotating our kids in and out, sometimes having to treat in front of one another with no privacy or doors.

When I left at the end of the year the school made a big gift for all the therapy disciplines except for Speech. And put it right in front of my desk :(

I had a panic attack and the principal asked me not to come in for 2 days. At the end of the 2 days the principal said she would give me a private space for the last 2 weeks of school to finish up my SLP evals and do groups without interruptions...but they let me quit and move across the country and didn't even say goodbye. Not even a note? A FB invite?

I really liked my co-workers. We just had a bum setup and that wasn't their fault.

Is it normal to just shade people out like that if you know they aren't coming back the next year? Damn we all had to work through the COVID variants masking/unmasking etc etc...seems sad that none of that mattered.

What are some activities that is great for middle school(6-8) for articulation? I have about 7 students on my caseload all working on the vocalic /r/ at the word-sentence level and I’m stuck on making progress and making speech fun for them. I’ve been doing a lot of drill play so they come to their sessions but I feel like I’m letting their progres plateau and it’s not as effective as it should be.

A lot of us are blatantly being taken advantage of because we do not know the crucial difference between an employee (w-2) and contractor (1099).

According to the IRS an independent contractor is hired by someone to do a job, however the person that hired them only had a say in the outcome, not how the job is done. The contractor decides what hours they will work, where they will work, and sets their own pay rate, typically works for a specific project or set timeline, doesn’t need training or attend meetings, and purchases all tools required for the job. The job requires a specific skill set that is not the company’s primary product or focus.

Example:A hair salon hires someone to build their website. A private practice clinician picks up 2 clients to see at their own practice. An SLP enters a contract directly with a school district to service 50 children for 1 school year.

For an employee the employer has control of how you do your job. They decide the hours, the location, and the details of the job. The employer trains you on how to do your job and use their software and qualifying metrics, the employer gives instructions to you on how to do your work, employer supplies all tools needed for the job and reimburses expenses, your work is ongoing, you’re paid an hourly or salaried wage. Your services are generally only provided to this employer.

Ex: A grocery store hires a cashier. An SLP is hired to work for a hospital full time with benefits. The SLP must comply with the schedule created by the hospital, service patients based on the hospital’s needs, use hospital provided tests and equipment, and follow hospital protocols and procedures. The SLP is salaried with benefits.

If you are being told is told what hour you have to work, number of kids you must see, where you have to work, how to write IEPs/notes/treatment plans, or a contract you did not negotiate directly as an equal party in services, you’re an employee. If you have a contract spelling out benefits (guaranteed hours, vacation, holiday), you’re an employee.

A contractor again, is only responsible for the end result (giving SLP services to kids that need it) the hiring party cannot tell them how to do the job or give any tools.

If you’re 1099 you’ve most likely been misclassified and you need to report it your state labor board.

I’m starting to get super discouraged by the medical SLP job market. I’m graduating in May & am having a tough time finding a medical setting that with take CFs. Anyone have any good advice? Thank you!

Throwaway for obvious reasons.

Does anybody feel like we need spaces without slp business owners?

Feels like this place has become another place we have to consider their feelings while talking about things . I’m not on here to be scolded about disliking cringe slp owner behavior or products.

Hi, all! I’m looking for some resources for helping families understand gestalt language processors. I’m finishing up my grad program, but I had an old friend reach out to me about this as she believes her son is a gestalt language processor and is getting pushback from his SLP. Does anyone have any resources on GLP I could provide her with that are parent friendly?

I started my private practice the end of 2022 and working with kids who has Tricare insurance. Does anybody have experience negotiating with Tricare about your session rate? I am in-network and my contract is 88% of the maximum allowable by Tricare or 70% of billed charges, whichever is lesser. I know an SLP in the same area who gets paid $10 more per session since the beginning. She didn't get a raise over the year. It seems to me the rate is arbitrary. I called Tricare, and they told me to email the regional contract manager to negotiate. It will be awesome if someone can share their experiences if they have done this before. Thank you!

Hello,

Just a quick question here. I am currently going through my CFY and my supervisor asked me what I though was an odd question. She asked me if I prefer feedback and coaching after the session or "offer direction in the moment." The first thing that went through my mind was that I don't want my supervisor interrupting my sessions since I plan everything out before. This is a video therapy session and I don't know if there is a way to do something like that without interrupting me or making it seem like I don't know what I am doing to the client. I think that happened a few times in my first semester in the program, but I did not want to seem like I was rude when I tell her I don't want her interrupting my sessions unless it is an emergency. My first question is -is this one of the options that supervisors give to their CFs? and why would this even be offered as an option? or am I just taking this all wrong? it just seems like this should not even be asked of a CF because at that point they know pretty much what they are doing.

Anyone know of any reliable resources for determining salary averages by state? I know there can be a lot of variation across and within settings, but I was offered a job in EI in Oregon paying $34/hour. This seems very low to me, but I want to determine just HOW low so I can make a case for a higher offer in negotiations. Any and all help is appreciated! Thank you!

hi all!! i’m currently a freshman in college studying speech language and hearing sciences and planning on becoming an slp! with summer not so far away, i was wondering if anyone had good ideas for jobs that would look good/be helpful in my career? are there even any? it seems like there’s no internships or anything even vaguely similar to what an slp does 🫠

some other things i should maybe mention: i have some retail experience, and tried summer camp last year but absolutely hated it so not that lol. i’m also leaning towards being an slp in a hospital/rehab center and want to work with kids or older adults, not fully sure yet.

Hi everyone! Long time lurker here who would really appreciate some advice! I’m a CF (currently unemployed) in the NYC area and am considering applying to the DOE for the upcoming school year. However, lately I’ve also been considering CT public school system and possibly applying there, as well as the NYSED. Do any of you have any advice regarding working in the CT school system and how is it to work there? Especially vs NYC? Or the NYSED? I've read that there is no cap to the amount of students one can get in CT. Any and all advice would be appreciated!

Does anyone live in a state where you also have to be a service coordinator if your an SLP, OT, PT, etc. working in EI? I’ve searched reddit and haven’t seen anyone else talk about this so it seems to be a rare thing. I’m overwhelmed by the service coordination part of my job (e.g., developing IFSP’s, conducting transition meetings, contact sheets, etc). I wanted to know if anyone else lives in a state that does EI like this and if you ever feel overwhelmed by the paperwork.

Hello, I was vitalstim or pharyngeal electrical stimulation clinics in Ottawa Canada that I can go too. Any amount of information is appreciated.

I have been applying to jobs like crazy that are speech adjacent or utilization review. I am so extremely unhappy with my job (I’ve tried every setting, I want out of this field). I wake up daily dreading work and just want to be happy. Has anyone quit a job with no back up plan? I could float a few months before I’d worry. I’m just so miserable right now I can’t stand another day of this.

Hey folks, wondering how flexible the ASHA requirements are for biology. I have a choice between a generic biology class and one that's a blend of biology, anthropology, and evolutionary science, but that course is technically under ANTH in the coursebook. Am I asking for trouble by enrolling in this one? (I already have social science credits.)

Hi all,

I am an internationally educated speech and language pathologist and recently moved to Canada, Nova Scotia. I am preparing to study for the CETP but it's obviously very hard since I didn't attend grad school in Canada and don't have any course notes. There is also no available study material specific to the test. Any advice on how I can proceed and how I can have access to the study material? Thank you!

Hey all. I (21F) am studying speech language pathology in undergrad. As Im getting closer to applying to grad schools Im getting worried that this isn't what I really want. I am the only one in my program that wants to work in a hospital setting and not in a school setting. I want to work with older populations as im not really a kiddie person. I also have adhd and am a very type B person. Ive been progressively getting worse at turning in homework on time. My professors constantly talk about how awful grad school is. It feels like both my teachers and my peers dont really understand where I'm coming from when I try to talk about it which leads me to bottling it up. People outside of the profession dont really get it either. The sad thing is I used to love speech especially when I was learning about the medical side of things (anatomy etc.). Also when I observe speech sessions I feel my heart light up. Did anyone feel like this going into grad school? Are there any type B slps willing to impart some wisdom? Any slps that don't particularly like kids/ knew they wanted to work in a medical setting? Please be kind I could cry from how lost I am. Thank you <3

Does anyone make their own resources on Canva or a similar platform? I'm not looking to start any type of TPT situation, just looking to make some resources that I haven't been able to find pre-made and to my liking. What program/website would you say is the easiest to use?

What are the rules for 1099/independent contractors and getting assigned clients? I’ve been assigned a full caseload right away with a super wide variety of needs and ages. I have very little artic only a ton of ASD and behavioral kiddos, most I can handle and are doing great with except an older one. Most of my experience has been with children 2-5. While I don’t mind learning, i have a lot going on right now and I can’t give the child the attention he needs to learn how to work with him (nonverbal AAC, a ton of aggressive behaviors). At this point I’m just burnt out. I feel like as an independent contractor and paying a higher tax rate/no benefits, I should have more say about who I do/don’t take because we can’t be a good fit for every child. I feel bad and would give ample notice, but I don’t feel like I’m a good fit for this child and it’s causing me so much anxiety and planning/research that I don’t get paid for. What do you think?