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For years I have been concerned about the encroachment on our profession by untrained and unqualified persons (i.e., educational therapists, behaviorists, occupational therapists, tutors, etc.). I have seen these persons, as well meaning as they may be, advertising therapy for language rehabilitation, auditory processing disorders, vocabulary development, and many speech-language pathology scope of practice areas. Some have only one program they routinely use for everyone, while others, with very little education, firmly believe they are providing services within their scope of practice. There is further misunderstanding caused by calling their various programs "therapy."
Therapy is the application of research ed-based strategies, selected by a professional who has a firm educational and developmental background in those methodologies. Therapy is not one program for everyone, nor is it a procedure learned in a few weeks without the educational foundation. Faced with declining numbers of qualified SLPs, overlapping professional responsibilities, cost cutting, and other constraints, I see these other "professions" infringing upon our scope of practice further. Even in states where the scope of practice is clearly defined, rarely, if ever, are licensure laws enforced, a problem akin to allowing fraudulent practices. Recruiting, maintaining, or strengthening our SLP population is a huge problem. What is the point of all those CCCs, licenses, hours of education, testing, and supervised practicum if anyone can simply do the "same thing"? I am concerned about our future. I would like to see us dialogue and collaborate with other professionals, such as psychologists, on not allowing further encroachment.
Carol Murphy
La Selva Beach, CA
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