Scope of Practice

Language

Spoken and written language (listening, processing, speaking, reading, writing, pragmatics)
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Pragmatics (language use and social aspects of communication)
Prelinguistic communication (e.g., joint attention, intentionality, communicative signaling)
Paralinguistic communication (e.g., gestures, signs, body language)
Literacy (reading, writing, spelling)

Speech Production

Motor planning and execution
Articulation
Phonological

Feeding and Swallowing

Oral phase
Pharyngeal phase
Esophageal phase
Atypical eating (e.g., food selectivity/refusal, negative physiologic response)

Fluency

Stuttering
Cluttering

Cognition

Attention
Memory
Problem-solving
Executive functioning

Voice

Phonation quality
Pitch
Loudness
Alaryngeal voice

Resonance

Hypernasality
Hyponasality
Cul-de-sac resonance
Forward focus

Auditory Habilitation & Rehabilitation

Speech, language, communication, and listening skills impacted by a reduced hearing level or deafness
Auditory processing

Elective Services

Preventive vocal hygiene
Business communication
Professional voice use

Alternative and Augmentative Communication

SLPs use advanced technologies in the evaluation, management, and care of individuals with communication and related disorders.
AAC technologies to help individuals who have impaired ability to communicate verbally on consistent basis-AAC devices make it possible for many individuals to successfully communicate within their environment and community.

Counseling

SLPs counsel by providing education, guidance, and support. Individuals, their families and their caregivers are counseled regarding acceptance, adaptation, and decision making about communication, feeding and swallowing, and related disorders. The role of the SLP in the counseling process includes interactions related to emotional reactions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that result from living with the communication disorder, feeding and swallowing disorder, or related disorders.

Advocacy and Outreach

SLPs advocate for the discipline and for individuals through a variety of mechanisms, including community awareness, prevention activities, health literacy, academic literacy, education, political action, and training programs.

Prevention and Wellness

SLPs are involved in prevention and wellness activities that are geared toward reducing the incidence of a new disorder or disease, identifying disorders at an early stage, and decreasing the severity or impact of a disability associated with an existing disorder or disease. Involvement is directed toward individuals who are vulnerable or at risk for limited participation in communication, hearing, feeding and swallowing, and related abilities.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2016). Scope of practice in speech-language pathology [Scope of Practice]. Available from www.asha.org/policy/.