Speech Language Pathologist Application Research Paper

I was asked what I wanted for my birthday; eagerly I replied “A beeo!” Mystified, my kindergarten teacher asked me to repeat myself. I tried, and tried again, each time losing more confidence, until I finally gave up. Why was my teacher perplexed? I had only requested a bear. Shortly after, I begin speech therapy, for the next 4 years of my life a delightful, petite-albeit plump woman with short salt and pepper hair came to whisk me away from my classroom and into speech therapy. Those weekly therapy sessions were now my solace; they became my time to shine. I was having fun, learning to speak more intelligibly, and gaining a new sense of confidence I never before possessed. Thus, my interest in Speech Pathology began long before I ever

I am intrigued by the medical, educational, and social aspects of the field and making a meaningful difference in lives through speech therapy. Shadowing a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, I determined this career would be a good fit for me as I was drawn to the idea of helping children attain their voice and express their wants and needs. I then became a licensed Speech Language Pathologist Assistant where I was given many unique opportunities to assist children in finding their voice and improve their overall quality of life. My most memorable moment has been working with a nonverbal child and his new AAC device. After several therapy sessions, this nonverbal little boy who had never requested or expressed himself was suddenly requesting juice telling me he was sad. I had played a part in helping him express himself, giving him a voice, and ultimately improving the quality of his

While in graduate school, I hope to pursue those interests further by learning more and actively researching these topics. I am most interested in researching phonological awareness of children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and its role in learning to read and the effectiveness of intervention. I am also interested in researching the effectiveness of using music as a speech and language therapy tool in young children. After graduate school, I hope to work at a pediatric outpatient clinic serving patients under 18 years of age, specializing in AAC, CAS, and/or literacy