Speech-language pathology is not known for its diversity, quite the opposite. Some traditions of the profession excluded minorities of all kinds, whether intentional or not. Today, I am discussing various forms of diversity in “certain” professions: linguistic, racial, ethnic, sex and gender.
What are the current S-LP demographics?
Based on the published data of the demographics of members registered with the American Speech-Language and Audiologists Association, the following are the results as of 2020. ASHA has 218,314 members, of which:
- 95.5% are females
- 8.5% identify as racial minorities and 6.1% as Hispanic or Latino
- 29.4% (the majority) are 34 years and younger
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2021). Profile of ASHA members and affiliates, year-end 2020. www.asha.org
Many SLPs are also monolinguals or speak English as their first language. As an SLP who is not Caucasian, and English not being my first language, I fall within a minority in this field. On the other hand, being a woman, I fall into the majority much more easily, compared to the much fewer number of males in our field.
How does the profession’s diversity affect the people we service?
Some people might wonder why it matters to the speech, professional communication or language clients we service as to how diverse SLPs are? Overall, it is similar to increasing diversity in other fields – it is a better reflection of the people we provide services to. Many of the materials and areas of thought for speech therapy treatment are hetero-normative and not linguistically or culturally diverse. For instance, many people work on pronouns, but this can be very prescriptive still in terms of showing a girl with long hair and a dress for ‘she’, whereas this can vary in the real world.
Many areas of diversity and inclusion (In efforts to avoid racism), benefit from input from the individuals who it affects the most. In relation to the pronouns example mentioned above, the inclusion of people who are different places on the gender spectrum is helpful in bringing positive changes. The speech pathology board in Ontario (CASLPO) also has many ethical guidelines, including the ‘Culturally Appropriate Intervention standard’, which states, in part:
“Members must be aware that socio-cultural factors such as race, ethnicity, customs, age, disability, gender, sexuality and religion may affect screening, assessment, management, communication and therapy relationships and must incorporate this knowledge into the patient’s intervention.”
Some people might wonder why it matters to the speech, professional communication or language clients we service as to how diverse SLPs are? Overall, it is similar to increasing diversity in other fields – it is a better reflection of the people we provide services to.
How can inclusion be increased in the speech pathology field?
There are many guidelines which have been released over the years, which provide positive changes in order to increase inclusion within the field. Aside from getting input from people of a variety of backgrounds, we can also make sure that, as SLPs, we take into account many different background in assessment and treatment The following are some of the ways SLPs work towards improving inclusion and diversity:
Language
In many cases, an interpreter or translator is recommended. This can be especially helpful for those individuals who speak a language which an SLP does not (including ASL). For individuals who are bilingual and have phonological disorders, inventories of speech sounds in various languages such as Arabic, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish etc. have been created. This could be apparent in different vocabulary based on the language they’ve grown up with, possible accent, etc. For example, I’ve worked with many children and adults who did not speak English as their native language. Due to this, I am able to keep in mind that certain sound differences will be due to their first language, such as Mandarin, Korean, etc. As the use of masks has become more commonplace since the onset of COVID-19, many people also wonder how this might affect their voice.
Race and ethnicity
Being from a particular ethnic background does not increase likelihood of speech and language difficulties – however, it is the case that many individuals from minority groups more often face poverty and limited resources. It is important in offering services since it should not be assumed that these individuals will have speech or language difficulties just because they are from a certain ethnic background. The Black Lives Matter movement has also raised awareness in the field to reduce discrimination wherever possible.
Sex and Gender
Many clients will not fit into a cisgender definition. It is important to be sensitive to terminology that individuals of various gender identities choose to use, as well as the challenges they can face. This might be most important for transgender voice clients; however, this is important to consider when a client feels comfortable to share their background with a clinician, even if voice change is not the aim. As anyone can imagine, speaking with a therapist can be very personal and private, so knowing that your therapist can empathize with and respect you can improve any therapist-client relationship.
If you are a client at WellSaid, you will also notice that we often ask about your native language, educational background, etc. This all helps us as therapists to make sure that we take into account the factors that could affect your linguistic and social exposure, which could be impacting your language. For example, if a client’s main concern is production of /v/, knowing their native language can help determine if the production is typical to that first language, or due to a different cause (i.e. ruling out structural difficulties). This is just one part of an SLP’s decision-making.
Due to the various workplaces that SLPs can practice in, these considerations will be in place in various ways. In addition, it can be helpful to learn about the differences between SLPs, OTs, and PTs, as many people need to access all three. We also work on overall communication ability – try our communication wellness course.
To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation online or calling (647) 795-5277.
It is being seen that the field of speech language pathology is expanding and being popular in almost all countries. Many people are approaching speech language pathologists to improve their speech, language and communication skills.
Racism
Racism as defined by Collins dictionary is “the belief that people of some races are inferior to others, and behavior which is the result of this belief. Racism also refers to the aspects of our society which prevent people of some racial groups from having the same privileges and opportunities as people from other races.” There are generally very rare cases reported of racism in the field of speech and language pathology. The different regulatory bodies of speech language pathology all over the world are against racism. These regulatory bodies have different means where people can contact them and make a complaint if they have suffered racism from a clinician. Strict actions are often taken when such an accusation is proved.
Diversity and inclusion in speech language pathology
Speech language pathologists work with a diverse population. There are diversities in the languages, beliefs and culture of different people. A speech language pathologist helps in dealing with language differences of individuals. For example, a client might be speaking a language or the dialect of a language that will include only a specific number of sounds. When they speak another language that has other sounds, they might look as if they have an articulation impairment. The speech language pathologist can definitely work on improving the enunciation of the client’s articulation of other sounds too, based on the request of the client, but the client will not be labelled as having a misarticulation. This would result in an improvement in the speech of the client which would make them move confident would help them in inclusion with the people who speak different languages.
Speech language pathologists also work on accent modification of people. An immigrant from a different country might face issues in communication if others do not understand what they speak due to their accent. This might make them face different issues at work or in socializing with others. By working on accent reduction, they would be well understood and would feel more confident while communicating.
Speech language pathologists also help in improving the cultural awareness of a person. They help a person in understanding the cultural differences and in adapting the culture of the person whom they interact with. For example, in certain cultures, it is rude to have eye contact or talk to elders or a respected person without being asked. People who are of a different culture may perceive that the person from this culture has deficits in eye contact or communication skills, while they were showing respect. This could create a lot of misconceptions. A speech language pathologist could make the person aware about the differences in culture and could train them to maintain eye contact and help them talk politely whenever required. This improves communication skills of the person and would help them integrate to the society even more.
The Communities we serve as S-LPs
Speech language pathologists work with a diverse population. There are diversities in the languages, beliefs and culture of different people. A speech language pathologist helps in dealing with language differences of individuals.
It is seen that individuals with language disorders like Autism often struggle to understand social cues and often face difficulties in communication. Some individuals segregate them and avoid them in their social circles whereas there are others who wish to communicate with them but are unable to do so effectively as they do not understand the issues and the challenges faced by them. Speech language pathologists, along with other professionals, help in spreading awareness about the issues and also about the challenges faced by these individuals. This helps reduce misconceptions and helps others understand how to communicate with them more effectively. During therapy, clinicians work with clients and help them develop coping strategies to overcome their challenges.
There are also individuals who have speech disorders like stuttering. Due to dysfluencies, they are unable to communicate even at work which makes them frustrated. Some people make fun of them or some avoid them while considering them as ‘strange’ or ‘unintelligent’. Hence, there are changes of them being isolated at work or in social situations. Speech language pathologists again work in spreading awareness about the issue and make others know how they need to communicate with them, like, not completing their words for them and to patiently allow them to finish their talk instead of showing frustration. They also train clients to achieve fluency and hence improve their communication skills.
There are also individuals who have good speech and language skills but have difficulty integrating with society due to their introverted nature. Such individuals often find it hard to develop friendships and relationships. They sometimes even have to face issues at work due to lack of socialization with their co-workers. As a result, most of them become moody and depressed and feel that they are not good enough and become even more asocial. Speech language pathologists work with such clients to improve their confidence and to communicate effectively at their workplace. Clients are trained to communicate freely to everyone at work and outside work, which would help them to communicate well and form friendships and relationships. This makes them more confident and helps them feel like they are a part of the society.
Speech language pathologists also work with individuals of LGBTQ2s+ in modifying their speech and nonverbal communication patterns. A lot of people who identify as trans man, trans woman, non-binary and gender fluid attend sessions in order to modify their pitch, resonance and other aspects of their verbal and nonverbal speech. They are trained to modify their speech and this helps them to integrate well into the society while being comfortable with themselves.
Conclusion
The field of speech-language pathology stands at an important crossroads. While our profession continues to grow more aware of diversity and inclusion needs, there remains significant work to be done—particularly in diversifying our own ranks to better reflect the communities we serve. When 95.5% of ASHA members are female and only 8.5% identify as racial minorities, we must acknowledge that our profession doesn’t yet mirror the rich diversity of our clients.
However, the path forward is clear. By embracing culturally appropriate interventions, utilizing interpreters and translators when needed, understanding the impact of bilingualism on speech patterns, and respecting the full spectrum of gender identities, we can provide more effective and compassionate care. Every consideration we make—whether it’s asking about a client’s native language, recognizing cultural differences in communication norms, or creating therapy materials that reflect diverse experiences—contributes to better outcomes and stronger therapeutic relationships.
Ultimately, diversity and inclusion in speech-language pathology isn’t just about ethics or representation—it’s about clinical excellence. When we understand and honor the backgrounds, languages, cultures, and identities of our clients, we provide better therapy. As our field continues to evolve, the commitment to serving all communities with cultural sensitivity and awareness must remain at the heart of our practice.
To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation online or calling (647) 795-5277.
