what is the job of a slpa? is the pay nice? is it rewarding? are you treated like an aide?

Question

i would like to know the pros and cons about being a speech language pathology assistant.

Answer 1

I assume your talking about a speech and language pathologist aide? I know one of my friends went from being a regular special ed. aide to a speech aide and she was very happy with the pay increase, but I am not sure how much it is in different areas. I know in my school (all special ed) the speech dept. has a very rewarding job as the kids we work with require so much patience and creativity to help them achieve that when they do achieve something in speech, like learning to use a communication device or learning a new sign or even learning how say a word, or even just activating a capability switch for the first time for some of our really severe kids who can't move at all...it is incredibly rewarding not just for the speech dept people but for the whole classroom/school! I can't honestly say whether or not you are treated like an aide or not...it depends on who you work with because some of the speech therapists prefer to do the treatment themselves while other speech therapist have the aides actively involved with all their student's treatments at all times. It just depends on where and who you work with.