I'm starting my 20th year as an SLP, but I didn't always know I wanted to be an SLP. Way back in the day, my mom took me to the Texas Tech clinic because she was the only one who could understand me. My parents remember exercises to make my lips and tongue stronger. I can only guess that I probably had final consonant deletion or blend reduction or both.
When I moved up to 4th grade and Intermediate School, I still wasn't saying my /r/ sounds. I remember going to speech therapy during social studies with another boy. There were picture card decks, and we often earned points to throw beanbags through a big board with a picture of a clown juggling empty holes. At one point, the boy learned how to say /r/, and the speech therapist asked me why I wasn't saying it like he did. I thought I was.
At some point, I actually heard the difference and asked my parents to discriminate my productions of /r/ words. I was dismissed at the beginning of 5th grade.
In college, I majored in journalism and became a copy editor. I met my husband, Jim, a sportswriter. We decided that working from 3 p.m. till midnight would not be conducive for a family. Jim had gotten a teaching certificate at his parents' insistence and got hired as the journalism teacher at the high school. I decided to go back to college. Truth be told, I was a little jealous of the summers off my mom and sister had, but I didn't want to be a teacher. Communication disorders seemed to be the way to go.
Now, I can't imagine doing anything else. What's your story? Why did you become an SLP?
I had hearing problems as a child (frequent OME, tubes) and often had to go for hearing tests. I liked having the tests and wanted to GIVE the hearing tests. I decided to major in Speech Pathology and Audiology in undergrad with the goal of being an audiologist or teacher of the Deaf. We had to do clinic hours in speech and I get skeeved out by touching other people's ears (weird, I know), and was not super quick to catch on to ASL, so I just decided to stick with speech, lol!
ReplyDeleteLove that story!
DeleteOne of the requirements for graduation at my high school was for seniors to complete an independent study the last 3 weeks of school. At the time I had already "decided" I wanted to be a child psychologist so I was planning to shadow a psych at one of our local hospitals. Well the end of the year came and the psych I was supposed to shadow had left the hospital and he hadn't been replaced yet. Disaster!!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom was able to pull some strings and get me placed at her hospital shadowing several SLPs in the speech department. I had zero prior knowledge of Speech Pathology at the time but after those two weeks I knew this was what I wanted to do.
Way to go, Tai's mom! I am constantly trying to recruit my daughter's friends just to let them know speech therapy exists. My daughter rolls her eyes...
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ReplyDeleteWell, I'm actually in college right now as a Communication Sciences & Disorders major at UGA. From the time I was 3, I would sit my stuffed animals down and teach them everything I knew. I always knew I wanted to be a social studies teacher except for the economy crashed and, well, yeah... So, one day I was looking at CNN's Best Careers of 2011 and #1 was SLP! I had no idea what that meant so I did some research and fell in love. I love the idea that I can work in schools, hospitals, clinics, or even open my private practice. When I told my friends, I was shocked to learn that many of them had some sort of speech therapy as a kid. One of my requirements when I was deciding on a career was that I would be able to spend time with my kids... Side note: I don't actually have kids, I meant the future kids that I keep Pinning ideas for. :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the SLP world! The flexibility is an advantage. When I had my kids, I was able to work part-time when other positions could not. Also, no matter what the economy is like, I come home to recruiting letters and voicemails.
DeleteDitto! Welcome~
DeleteNever wanted to really work in the schools as an SLP. Alwyas thought I'd prefer clinic/hospital settings.
Ended up at a school and loved it. Go figure~The holidays off are wonderful! Huge perk! I love to help the older students w/transition communication skills. My FAV area.
Isn't it weird how we think we want to do one thing and end up with something else?
DeleteI just wrote a post on this for Speech Pathology Week in Australia! I kind of fell into it (and didn't know what else to study) but keep finding it rewarding and interesting, and very useful now that I have kids of my own!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to find you!
Emily
http://playtalklearn.com/2012/08/speech-pathology-week-2012-tell-your-story/
Age 51: MN-22 yrs as an SLP in public school
ReplyDeleteAge 22: AZ-sipping drinks around the pool. Roomie says she is moving north to WI to get her degree in horse science. Hands me the college catalog & says, "Choose one (major)& come with" hmmmm...x2 PT jobs for minimum wage or univ student...Comm Dis looked good-a touch of science w/a flair of art. Besides the Univ had a Qtr Abroad program and I hadn't been to Europe yet.
Age 26: Amsterdam, Neth. Independent Rsch for Right Hemisphere stroke patients with Communication Disorders. Very interesting travels for 3 months.
I currently travel w/my hubby of 17 yrs ev winter break. I am very happy w/my career choice.
That is quite a story! Thanks for sharing!
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