Meeting the demand for
speech-language pathologists
In
a bustling campus of 14,000 students, it's easy to overlook Hannah Jones.
That's
mostly because she's just 6 years old, of course (pictured with UNO student
Justin McCarty) The pigtailed youngster comes to the UNO campus once a week,
visiting the College of Education's Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic in Kayser
Hall. There she learns to deal with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a
collection of developmental disorders with which she was identified at the age
of 2 and that involves impairments of social responsiveness, symbolic abilities
and communication (verbal and nonverbal).
Though
she receives school-based intervention services, her family sought additional
help at UNO. The association began two years ago at the clinic's Summer Speech
Camp. There, Hannah began working on basic grammatical structures—learning how
to produce simple declarative sentences. Since then, Clinic intervention has
targeted improved joint attention: attending to an object, event or social
partner; vocabulary and concept development; answering and asking questions;
and "reading" emotional states from facial expressions.
Hannah's
progress has been impressive. In structured settings she now can carry on a
basic conversation about familiar topics, identify her own emotional states,
and formulate questions to obtain information.
"It
is truly a joy to watch Hannah now and reflect back on the strides she has made
in these four years," writes her father, Gordon Jones. "Having the speech
services provided by the students is a very important part of Hannah's success
story."
While
it is heartening to see the help Hannah is receiving, there are, sadly, others
like her who go without such assistance. That is due in part to what is a
growing concern—a national shortage of qualified speech-language pathologists.
Currently,
42 million Americans—one out of every six—have a communication disorder. Yet in
a 2004 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) survey of
school-based speech-language pathologists, 62 percent of the respondents
reported their school districts had more job openings in the field than job
seekers. The shortage extends to faculty at institutions of higher education.
According to the U.S. Labor Department (2002-03), speech-language pathology is
one of the country's top 30 hottest growth professions out of 700 through 2010.
The
need for speech-language pathologists could continue, too, given the changing
makeup of the U.S. population. The elderly population is growing, meaning more
seniors who are susceptible to strokes, hearing impairments and other
communication disorders. There also is an increase in the number of survivors
of head and neck injuries among younger people, who also can suffer speech and
language disorders.
The
UNO Speech-Language Pathology program is making a concerted effort to recruit
more students into the field. Currently, ?? students are enrolled in UNO's speech-language pathology program, designed to provide
students with a strong theoretical and clinical foundation.
Basic
undergraduate coursework consists of preparation in human communication
sciences and disorders. ASHA-accredited, the program features small class
sizes, affording students the opportunity to better acquaint themselves with
professors and their peers. Students complete four clinical practicum
experiences, including a half-time placement in the public schools and a full-time
placement in a hospital or clinical setting.
Program
faculty work closely with the Omaha metropolitan community to provide valuable
hands-on clinical experience, practical training and excellent placement
opportunities for students.
UNO
graduates consistently score better than the average on the national
professional exam. All master's-level graduates are prepared for practice in a
broad range of facilities, including: public and private schools; hospitals and
rehabilitation centers; nursing care facilities and community clinics;
community centers; state and federal government agencies; home health agencies;
long-term facilities; research laboratories and institutes; and elsewhere.
At UNO, the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic serves
individuals from 2 to 80 years of age, often collaborating with area
schools for those clients who receive Special Education services. The goals
targeted in Clinic are coordinated with Individualized Education Program goals
and objectives.
Student
clinicians under the supervision of master clinicians assess and treat clients
with a diversity of communication challenges: ASD, language disorders, Down
syndrome, aphasia, spastic dysphonia, stuttering, articulation and phonology
disorders.
Clients
and their families report a high level of satisfaction with the UNO clinical
services.
"Hannah
loves to work, and she has been paired with some remarkable clinicians who have
made real and lasting contributions to our daughter's growth," says Gordon
Jones. "Being able to take Hannah to UNO has several advantages for us, namely
proximity to our home and Hannah's school. Familiarity with the routine and
surroundings helps Hannah transition with less anxiety and, of course, the
staff and students are great to work with and give us ideas that translate
beyond the classroom. We are very thankful for the services our daughter
receives and we always tell people about our great experiences at the
university."
