Most people have no clear concept of speech and occupational therapy. It becomes challenging to identify the right therapy for their needs. Even if you apply for jobs in this field, you should know their differences. So, learn how speech pathologists differ from occupational therapists.
Occupational and speech therapies- How do they work?
When starting a speech therapy session, you may experience different emotions. However, with good knowledge and skills, these are easily manageable. The first step is to evaluate the patient’s speech and create a plan.
The therapists develop a custom plan to understand the patient’s weaknesses and strengths. They also help patients achieve their individual goals.
After deciding on the goals, they continue the therapy for at least 30 minutes. Most patients need this therapy at least twice every week. If you deal with kids, your therapeutic sessions should be play-based.
The strong bond between the child and the speech therapist provides the best result. However, the cooperation of family members is also a significant factor in improving communication skills.
Now, let us talk about occupational therapy. During the initial session, the therapist conducts an assessment to learn about the patient’s issues. He then uses resources and tools to help the patient remove barriers. For instance, the therapist helps the patient learn how to use assistive equipment.
Whom do occupational and speech therapists treat?
Occupational therapists help people of any age, and they need to work in different areas, including
- Their own clinics
- Social activities
- School
- Self-care tasks like hygiene and dressing
- Mobility
- Leisure activities
For instance, OTs help teachers and children in the classroom as they aim to assist learners in thriving better. They also treat people who have cognitive impairment after brain injuries and strokes. Moreover, OTs help patients determine what they should do to perform everyday activities efficiently.
On the contrary, speech therapists are ready to treat patients with various communication issues. So, speech therapy is important if your kids have articulation disorders and stammering issues.
Adults can also choose a speech therapist to treat communication problems resulting from other diseases. The therapist will help them improve their potential to express thoughts and ideas.
Skills nurtured by the therapists
Both occupational and speech therapies are effective therapeutic solutions for improving your children’s needs. The OT will focus on your kids’ whole-body (motor functions) needs. He will also concentrate on your children’s daily tasks. His therapy is also intended to develop motor skills (like tying shoes) in your children.
On the contrary, speech therapy will meet your children’s language and speech needs. The therapist will improve their reading and swallowing abilities. However, he does not focus on particular tasks and deals with the overall development of language capabilities.
Skills of occupational and speech therapists
You will find similarities in the skills of OTs and speech therapies. Candidates applying for speech and occupational therapist jobs LA must be excellent communicators with a sense of compassion and empathy for patients. Both professionals need strong critical thinking abilities to collect information and analyze it. Some common skills are
- Patience
- Listening
- Organizational
- Interpersonal
- Determination
However, some OTs need to plan strategies that help patients achieve maximum wellness. They evaluate functional challenges and create evidence-based therapeutic plans. But, if you want speech pathologist jobs Los Angeles, you must know the way to analyze verbal communication challenges.
Training and education for speech and occupational therapy
Training and educational criteria for speech and occupational therapists are almost the same. They have to go through identical paths to establish themselves in the field.
For occupational therapist and speech pathologist jobs in Los Angeles, you need to have Master’s degrees. There are mandatory licensing programs in some states. Occupational therapists should be licensed with strong certification needs.
Today, many practitioners in these fields try to acquire a doctorate for a better salary. They aim to strengthen their knowledge and serve patients more efficiently.
Occupational and speech therapies- Learn about the diverse types
Occupational therapy can be categorized in different ways-
- General– It focuses on helping those whose functional abilities have been impaired by severe injury and illness. Patients also learn self-care skills and become independent. They will become more active with this therapy.
- Pediatric– Some OTs deal with children who have developmental issues, hearing issues, and vision problems.
- Geriatric- Many therapists provide occupational therapy for aged people.
If you need speech therapy jobs Los Angeles, choose your specialization-
- Stuttering therapy– Stammering problems have existed since childhood, and therapists apply behavioral modification techniques.
- Treatment for aphasia– Aphasia leads to difficulty speaking to several adults. The therapist will try to improve their language skills.
- Therapy for swallowing issues– The treatment will improve chewing and tongue movement.
Conclusion
At Las Speech Therapy Solutions, you will find a team of therapists to deal with your children’s language and speech issues. For instance, if they have stammering problems, contact the most experienced therapist for the desired treatment. Experts can also apply for speech and occupational therapy jobs to build their careers. They will get the opportunity to treat patients with different therapeutic techniques.