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(Rockville, MD - August 6, 2009) Anthony Koutsoftas, CCC-SLP, never thought the simple act of a parent sharing a meal with her child would warrant him a thank you. However, during therapy sessions with a young girl with autism, Koutsoftas taught the child important feeding skills and how to tolerate different types of foods. One afternoon, the patient's mother took him aside and told him that for the first time she could sit down and share a bagel with her daughter, all thanks to Koutsoftas.
"When an incident like that happens where a mom really thanks you so much, it's better than getting paid [and] it makes your day worth it," Koutsoftas says.
A licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2001, Koutsoftas tells the story in a video that is featured on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) home page (www.asha.org). Koutsoftas' video is part of ASHA's Share Your Stories project.
Koutsoftas worked for 5 years for the New York City Department of Education before attending Arizona State University to pursue a PhD. He worked as an adjunct instructor at New York University and with early intervention services in both New York and the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Once he completes his PhD, he hopes to work at the university level training future SLPs and conducting research in the area of typical and disordered language and literacy acquisition.
"Giving back is a common theme among our 135,000 members," according to ASHA President Sue Hale. "Often, I hear from SLPs such as Anthony, as well as audiologists, about how rewarding their work is and how it is about much more than a salary and job security."
The Share Your Stories initiative highlights the difference audiologists and speech-language pathologists make in people's lives, making the professionals more familiar and accessible to the public. ASHA plans to regularly feature segments on its home page. "We think it's a great way to introduce the public to our members—to the kind of people they are, as well as the great value they contribute to society through their work," Hale says.
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About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 135,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
View all ASHA press releases at www.asha.org/about/news.
Hear all ASHA podcasts at www.asha.org/podcast/.
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