Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

The Work

Speech and language therapists help people to minimise or overcome impaired speech, voice, language or swallowing difficulties. They diagnose and assess conditions so a plan of treatment can be implemented.  
 
This plan of treatment must be both effective in improving the condition and interesting enough to keep the client's attention. Work with children, in particular, requires the therapist to devise imaginative and varied exercises.  
 
Clients are usually seen on a one-to-one basis, although the therapist may decide that group sessions are beneficial to some. Progress can be very slow and patients may be treated for several years. Full recovery may not always be possible and the therapist must be able to cope with the frustration and disappointment this can cause.  
 
Children form a large client group for the speech and language therapist. Speech difficulties often have profound social, psychological and educational implications that may be minimised by early treatment. Young people may need help with speech difficulties ranging from stammering to mispronunciation - the kinds of problem that lead them to withdraw from social situations.  
 
Adults usually have speech difficulties as a result of accidents or illnesses such as strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or cancer. Speech and language therapists may also help people with learning disabilities and mental health problems

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
• Develop or implement treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, or inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems, based on own assessments and recommendations of physicians, psychologists, or social workers.
• Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid or billing records or caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
• Participate in and write reports for meetings regarding patients' progress, such as individualised educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, or intervention assistance team meetings.
• Evaluate hearing or speech and language test results, barium swallow results, or medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, or swallowing disorders.
• Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans.
• Develop individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems.
• Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, such as sign language, lip reading, or voice improvement.
• Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests, or examinations to patients to collect information on type and degree of impairments, using written or oral tests or special instruments.
• Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings.

Further Information

• Speech & Language Therapist - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Speech & Language Therapist - from: GradIreland
• Speech & Language Therapist - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Linguistic

The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Childhood Speech, Language & Communication Needs, Health Sciences - Speech & Language Therapy - Research, Clinical Speech & Language Studies - Dysphagia, Health Sciences - Speech & Language Therapy - Research, Linguistic Speech & Communications Sciences - Research, Speech & Language Therapy - Professional Qualification at NFQ level 9-10

Irish Speech & languages Therapists of Ireland

Irish Association for speech & Language Therpists

Last Updated: August, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €36k - €88k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Gov/ Indeed/ Excel

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average for therapy professionals, with levels in 2022 remaining below that of 2020. Although LFS data does not allow for a detailed breakdown of employment in this group, Census data for 2016 and 2022 shows detailed employment as follows.

Despite the lack of overall employment growth in recent years, issues with recruitment resulted in a number of therapist roles (occupational, physiotherapists and speech and language) being added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List in June 2022. A total of 53 new permits were issued in 2022, primarily for physiotherapists with a small number for occupational and speech & language therapists.

The delivery of the Sláintecare report, particularly in terms of community care and mental health services, will require additional staffing in these occupations and, while a combined total of 100 additional training places are planned for occupational, physio, and speech/language therapists in Ireland and Northern Ireland’s education system, given the duration of training programmes, recruitment difficulties for these posts are unlikely to ease in the short-to-medium term. However, as employment levels are not increasing and the data does not allow for detailed analysis, it is not possible to determine if shortages exist for this occupation at present.

• Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

  • 51 Bracken Rd., Sandyford, Dublin, Ireland. D18 CV48
  • (0) 87 637 1605
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here