All In A Day's Work: Speech Therapist

Michele McNearney, Director of Speech Therapy for HealthEast Care System, talks about her job.

By Nancy Giguere

Last update: December 12, 2007 - 11:22 AM

Q: What's a typical workday like for you?

A: I spend most of my time evaluating between six to eight adult patients who are hospitalized for conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's or dementia, or who have had a tracheotomy. I assess their ability to communicate: their capacity to understand language, their speech and their general cognition. I also evaluate swallowing difficulties.

Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?

A: Our work is essential for well-rounded patient care. The ability to understand others and communicate one's basic needs affects a patient's progress. And the ability to swallow is essential for good nutrition and continued recovery. In addition, improved swallowing helps patients avoid pneumonia and other respiratory issues, and this means that care is more cost-effective for both the hospital and the insurers.

Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?

A: We work collaboratively with physicians, including neurologists and pulmonologists. We also work very closely with nurses. For patients with swallowing disorders, we consult with the radiology staff. In addition, we serve as counselors to patients and families, teaching them how to lessen the frustration of impaired communication and - when swallowing is no longer possible - helping them decide whether to insert a feeding tube or consider hospice.

Q: Why did you become a speech therapist?

A: I started college as a business major, but didn't like it. I was looking through the catalogue for something in human services when I discovered courses in linguistics and communication disorders. I signed up and fell in love with the field. Later on, I became fascinated with degenerative and swallowing disorders, so I decided to concentrate on the medical aspects of the field.

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: I love being able to see patients make progress. When they're able to regain basic communication and eating skills, their lives become much more normal and enjoyable. It's also a real privilege to help families make tough decisions about care for loved ones who are no longer able to eat normally.

Learn more about this field from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

Nancy Giguere Is A Freelance Writer From St. Paul Who Has Written About Healthcare Since 1995.

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