Speech Therapist
On this page
- What's it like to be a Speech Therapist?
- How to become a Speech Therapist
- Top skills and experience for Speech Therapists
What's it like to be a Speech Therapist?
A Speech Therapist (Kaihaumanu Reo ā-Waha) works with people who have verbal and other communication difficulties, which affect speech, language, listening, reading or writing. They also treat people who have eating, drinking and swallowing problems. Clients may have a congenital condition, intellectual disability, or an illness such as cancer, stroke or head injury. Speech Therapists may work as independent professionals or in clinics, hospitals, aged care homes, research institutes, or schools.
Tasks and duties
- Meeting with clients to assess and diagnose communication and swallowing difficulties.
- Creating individualised treatment plans, and education for clients, carers, or whānau.
- Conducting individual or group therapy sessions to help overcome clients’ communication difficulties.
- Working with other professionals such as doctors, physiotherapists, or occupational therapists to provide multidisciplinary services to the client.
How to become a Speech Therapist
To become a Speech Therapist you need a relevant bachelor or masters degree.
Complete a three-year bachelor degree in speech and language therapy (or pathology), or a four-year honours degree.
Many roles require a masters level speech and language therapy or pathology degree.
Consider registering with the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association Te Kāhui Kaiwhakatikatika Reo Kōrero o Aotearoa.
Some Speech Therapists gain additional training and specialise in working with infants, children, older adults, or with people who have had strokes.
