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3141.2 – Speech-language pathologists
Speech-language pathologists diagnose, assess and treat human communication disorders including speech, fluency, language, voice and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists who are supervisors are included in this group.
Profile
Example titles Help
- Educational speech-language pathologist
- Speech therapist
- Speech-language clinician
Main characteristics Help
- General learning ability to diagnose, evaluate and treat speech, language and voice disorders, and to conduct research related to human communication disorders
- Verbal ability to communicate diagnosis to patients, to use terminology associated with communication therapy, and to provide speech training to correct communication problems; may instruct students and other health care personnel
- Methodical interest in administering tests and examinations and observing patients to diagnose and evaluate speech, voice, resonance, language, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
- Innovative interest in co-ordinating research programs; in conducting research on speech and other communication disorders and on the development and design of diagnostic procedures and devices; and in establishing group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
- Social interest in instructing patients by planning and implementing remedial programs to correct speech, language and voice disorders
Aptitudes Help
One of five levels assigned for each factor, with levels representing normal curve distribution of the labour force:
- G
- General learning ability
- V
- Verbal ability
- N
- Numerical ability
- S
- Spatial perception
- P
- Form perception
- Q
- Clerical perception
- K
- Motor co-ordination
- F
- Finger dexterity
- M
- Manual dexterity
- The highest 10% of the working population
- Upper third, exclusive of the highest 10%
- Middle third of the working population
- Lowest third, exclusive of the lowest 10%
- Lowest 10% of the working population
An individual's overall capacity to learn the skills needed to perform job duties is based on his or her specific aptitudes for acquiring information and transforming it into action.
General learning ability G-2
Ability to 'catch on' or understand instructions and underlying principles; to reason and make judgments.
Verbal ability V-2
Ability to understand the meaning of words and the ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively; to comprehend language, to understand relationships between words and to understand the meaning of whole sentences and paragraphs; to present information or ideas clearly.
Numerical ability N-3
Ability to carry out arithmetical processes quickly and accurately.
Spatial perception S-3
Ability to think visually about geometric forms and comprehend the two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects; to recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space. May be used in such tasks as blueprint reading and in solving geometry problems. Frequently described as the ability to 'visualize' objects of two or three dimensions.
Form perception P-3
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and in pictorial and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.
Clerical perception Q-3
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal or tabular material; to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetical computation.
Motor co-ordination K-4
Ability to co-ordinate eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately when required to respond with precise movements.
Finger dexterity F-4
Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.
Manual dexterity M-4
Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully; to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.
Interests Help
Three of five descriptive factors, assigned in order of predominance and lower case rating indicating weaker representation:
- D
- Directive
- I
- Innovative
- M
- Methodical
- O
- Objective
- S
- Social
Methodical M
Methodical persons like to have clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities. They prefer working under the direction or supervision of others according to given instructions, or to be guided by established policies and procedures. Methodical persons like to work on one thing until it is completed. They enjoy following a set routine and prefer work that is free from the unexpected.
Innovative I
Innovative persons like to explore things in depth and arrive at solutions to problems by experimenting. They are interested in initiating and creating different ways to solve questions and present information. They enjoy scientific subjects. Innovative persons prefer to be challenged with new and unexpected experiences. They adjust to change easily.
Social S
Social persons like dealing with people. They enjoy caring for and assisting others in identifying their needs and solving their concerns. Social persons like working and co-operating with others. They prefer to be involved in work that requires interpersonal contact.
Data, people, and things Help
Data
- 0
- Synthesizing
- 1
- Co-ordinating
- 2
- Analyzing
- 3
- Compiling
- 4
- Computing
- 5
- Copying
- 6
- Comparing
- 7
- N/A
- 8
- Not Significant
People
- 0
- Mentoring
- 1
- Negotiating
- 2
- Instructing - Consulting
- 3
- Supervising
- 4
- Diverting
- 5
- Persuading
- 6
- Speaking - Signaling
- 7
- Serving - Assisting
- 8
- Not significant
Things
- 0
- Setting up
- 1
- Precision working
- 2
- Controlling
- 3
- Driving - Operating
- 4
- Operating - Manipulating
- 5
- Tending
- 6
- Feeding - Offbearing
- 7
- Handling
- 8
- Not significant
Data Co-ordinating 1
Determining time, place and sequence of operations or actions to be taken based on analysis of data; executing determinations and/or reporting events.
People Instructing 2
Teaching subject matter to others, giving advice or training others (including animals) through explanation, demonstration and supervised practice; making recommendations on the basis of subject matter expertise.
Things Not significant 8
Not significant
Physical activities Help
V - Vision
- 1
- Close visual acuity
- 2
- Near vision
- 3
- Near and far vision
- 4
- Total visual field
H - Hearing
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Verbal interaction
- 3
- Other sound discrimination
L - Limb co-ordination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Upper limb co-ordination
- 2
- Multiple limb co-ordination
C - Colour discrimination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Relevant
B - Body position
- 1
- Sitting
- 2
- Standing and/or walking
- 3
- Sitting, standing, walking
- 4
- Other body positions
S - Strength
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Light
- 3
- Medium
- 4
- Heavy
Vision Vision V-2
The use of sight in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the visual field involved in the performance of the work.
2 - Near vision
Work activities are performed near the worker. The scope of the visual field is broader than in Close visual acuity (1).
Examples:
- reading and interpreting drawings and specifications
- using computer keyboards and reading computer monitors
- repairing automobile engines
- setting up and operating machine tools
Colour discrimination Colour discrimination C-0
The use of colour descrimination to identify, distinguish and match colours and different shades of the same colours.
0 - Not relevant
Colour discrimination is not relevant in the performance of the work.
Examples:
- cleaning windows
- providing information over the telephone
- interviewing, hiring and overseeing staff training
- translating documents
Hearing Hearing H-2
The use of hearing in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the type of auditory discrimination involved in the performance of the work.
2 - Verbal interaction
Work activities involve communication with colleagues, clients and/or the public on a regular basis.
Examples:
- operating directory listing systems to provide directory assistance to customers
- resolving work problems and recommending measures to improve productivity
- consulting with families of the deceased regarding funeral services
- analyzing and providing advice on managerial methods and organization of establishments
Body position Body position B-1
Primary type of posture or body movement involved in performing the work. These postures or body movements range from simple to complex and from sedentary to mobile.
1 - Sitting
Work activities primarily involve sitting. Standing and/or walking (2) may occur but is incidental to the work being performed.
Examples:
- reading and editing copy to be published or broadcast
- preparing financial statements
- issuing aircraft take-off and landing instructions to pilot
- interviewing clients
Limb co-ordination Limb co-ordination L-0
The use of limbs in performing work.
0 - Not relevant
Work activities do not involve co-ordination of limbs.
Examples:
- counselling clients and providing therapy
- proofreading materials before publication
- greeting patrons at entrances to restaurant dining rooms
- responding to enquiries at an information desk
Strength Strength S-1
The use of strength in the handling of loads such as pulling, pushing, lifting and/or moving objects during the work performed.
1 - Limited
Work activities involve handling loads up to 5 kg.
Examples:
- examining and analyzing financial information
- selling insurance to clients
- conducting economic and technical feasibility studies
- administering and marking written tests
Environmental conditions Help
Location
- L1
- Regulated inside climate
- L2
- Unregulated inside climate
- L3
- Outside
- L4
- In a vehicle or cab
Hazards
- H1
- Dangerous chemical substances
- H2
- Biological agents
- H3
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- H4
- Electricity
- H5
- Radiation
- H6
- Flying particles, falling objects
- H7
- Fire, steam, hot surfaces
- H8
- Dangerous locations
Discomforts
- D1
- Noise
- D2
- Vibration
- D3
- Odours
- D4
- Non-toxic dusts
- D5
- Wetness
Location Regulated inside climate L1
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L1 - Regulated inside climate
A normal controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school.
Employment requirements Help
Education/training Help
- 1
- No formal education or training requirements
- 2
- Some high school education and/or on the job training or experience
- 3
- High school
- 4
- Course work, training, workshops and/or experience related to the occupation
- 5
- Apprenticeship, specialized training, vocational school training
- 6
- College, technical school (certificate, diploma)
- 7
- Undergraduate degree
- 8
- Post-graduate or professional degree
- +
- Additional requirement beyond education and training
- R
- Regulated requirement(s)
- Speech-language pathologists require a master's degree in speech-language pathology.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
- Membership in the national association, Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, is usually required.
Workplaces/employers Help
- Community and public health centres
- Day clinics
- Education institutions
- Extended care facilities
- Hospitals
- Private practices
- Rehabilitation centres
Occupational options Help
- Progression into management positions, such as chief audiologist or director of speech-language pathology, is possible with experience.
Exclusions Help
- Managers in health care (0311)
- Phoniatricians (in 3111 Specialist physicians)
- Audiology and speech-language technical and assisting occupations (in 3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
- Braille, lip-reading and sign language instructors (in 4215 Instructors of persons with disabilities)
Breakdown summary
- Broad occupational category
- 3 – Health occupations
- Skill level
- A – Occupations usually require university education
- Minor group
- 31 – Professional occupations in health (except nursing)
- Minor group
- 314 – Therapy and assessment professionals
- Unit group
- 3141 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- Version
- NOC 2016 Version 1.3