Short Description
Speech therapists work as part of military medical teams.
Speech therapists evaluate and treat patients with hearing and speech problems.
What They Do
Speech therapists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Talk with patients to discuss hearing and speaking problems and possible causes and treatment
- Identify speaking and language problems
- Examine the ears, including the entire auditory (hearing) system
- Evaluate examination and test data to determine the type and amount of hearing loss
- Treat hearing problems using hearing aids and other treatments
- Assist patients in selecting and using hearing aids
- Conduct programs to help patients improve their speaking skills
- Research new techniques for treating hearing and speaking problems
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Desire to help others
- Interest in scientific work
- Patience to work with people whose injuries heal slowly
Training Provided
No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupational group.
Work Environment
Speech therapists work in therapy labs, clinics, and medical centers.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian speech therapists work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and research centers.
They perform duties similar to those performed by military speech therapists.
Depending on their specialty, civilian speech therapists may also be called audiologists or speech pathologists.
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