The field of speech and language pathology all began in the 18th century when James Ford first advertised his services to address “stammering and other impediments in speech.” With speaking ability and diction being markers of English class during this time, Ford made a name for himself and opened the door for other early teachers. In America, the focus on stuttering and its treatments continued with the publication of Doctor Samuel Potter’s thesis on “speech and its deficits,” which he eventually expanded into a book detailing a variety of communication disorders.
It was in 1925 when the American Academy of Speech Correction (later to be renamed the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association or “ASHA”) was founded. The group was particular in its selection criteria and required members to have advanced degrees or be active in research publications. As a result, there was a shift in the field’s focus to the more medical and neurological components of language. Particularly due to the injuries resulting from World Wars I and II, it was during this period that many aspects related to the brain and speech connection were discovered.
Additionally, in the 20th century, an emphasis on the use of scientific methodologies emerged, with evidence-based practice at the center. Thus, formal taxonomies were developed, diagnostic and treatment methodologies were created, and research on related topics abounded. With time and experience came minimum standards of practice and requirements for licensures and/or certifications. During the late 1900s and early 2000s, the social and pragmatic aspects of language began to be included under a speech therapist’s scope of practice. With the boom of technology and the growth of other related fields, speech and language pathology expanded yet again to address new diagnoses and implement updated techniques.
Today, being a speech and language pathologist requires knowledge of human development across the lifespan, an understanding of a variety of anatomical and physiological systems, dedication to schooling, flexibility in work environments, and an ability to diagnose, treat, and support hundreds of differences and disorders.
No wonder clinicians are in such high demand!
Sources:
https://hsl.lib.unc.edu/speechandhearing/professionshistory
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/study-unearths-britains-first-speech-therapists
https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR.07232002.4
