Which SLT course?

Msc? PGDip? PGcert? BSc?

Speech and Language Therapy? Speech Sciences? Evidence based practice in communication disorders?

NHS funded? Self- funded?

Apply by UCAS? Apply by post? Apply directly to uni online? Apply for more than one course at once?

Just an application form? Interview? Group tasks?

If you don't get in first time round do you wait until next year?

The process of getting onto a Speech and Language Therapy course is pretty complicated. Knowing which is the best option for you is not easy. Combine this with the limited amount of courses and the competition for places, the process can be pretty stressful!

I applied for two courses and also contacted another one for more information. I was basically told by one that my degree was not that relevant so not to bother applying. My work experience was not taken into account. This really knocked my confidence and I didn't think I'd get onto a course at all. However, after a successful English/ Maths test, group task and interview I got onto my current course straight away.

I have enjoyed my course, loved being on placement but found it stressful at times. Our grade is based entirely on essays and a dissertation which I have found a bit tricky as someone who prefers exams to writing assignments. Some of these have been due in whilst we are on placement. As a well organised person I have tried to get these finished before they are due, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day! I have found myself rushing placement preperation in order to meet deadlines. We are also not graded on our placements and as this is the main reason we are on the course it seems a shame that this is not reflected. Having said that, I can see how the process of marking these is more subjective than an essay marking grid.

Having almost completed my course, I have met students from other universities. Most are shocked when I tell them we do not have end of year exams. Obviously I haven't met everyone, but those that I have seem to have a better grasp of the terminology that is used within the workplace and the medical model. In contrast (again this is just an opinion) I feel whilst finding some of the background knowledge difficult, I have been able to apply my thinking flexibly, which can be useful when outside factors are impacting on what you are seeing during assessment/ therapy.

I think universities need to be clearer about what their course gives you in terms of a qualification and what the courses will actually involve in terms of assessment and placements. I think its obvious there are a lot of people applying for many places but information will help the person find a course that suits their learning style.

"If I had a walking stick you'd slow down to walk with me, why won't you do the same with my talking?"

Why an almost full recovery isn't always as good as it seems

The quote from the title is something that has stayed with me throughout my first week at placement. I have had a brilliant opportunity to meet all sorts of clients- aphasia, dysphagia, voice, cancer, long term neurological conditions...the list goes on. It's been a bit scary but I've survived, loved every second and am looking forward to the remaining four weeks.

I have observed and assessed aphasia in acute, neuro-rehab and outpatients settings. Beforehand I thought the acute setting would be most difficult, from a client and family point of view.

However, it has been really surprising to see how the people that have made amazing progress and appear typical communicators on the surface seem to have found it just as difficult. When you have a communication difficulty that is invisible to the non-SLT it can be easy for the family and other communication partners to forget, not notice how the person with aphasia feels or just ignore the problems because it is the easiest, least upsetting thing to do.



By continuing to talk how they've always talked - interrupting each other, talking loudly, talking quickly, using complex language.. the person with aphasia is at risk of becoming socially isolated and feeling upset, frustrated and overwhelmed.

The need to educate and work with communication partners has been highlighted more than ever this week - it has really shown how even at a high level of recovery, the person with aphasia needs the support from their family to access the community and enjoy communication again. Impairment based therapy can seem like the most appropriate thing for an SLT to do, but sometimes a simple 'you know what, your family member has done amazingly well but now they just need you to just slow down and wait' can have more effective results.


Lauren

How did YOU get interested in SLT/ SLP?

We all know there is a lack of awareness of SLT and in particular a lack of males within the profession. I recently guest-blogged on the lovely Gemma's blog here http://www.speechandlanguagethera-peers.blogspot.co.uk/2013_01_01_archive.html about my current research into male SLT's that I am doing for my dissertation.

Earlier today I posted a simple 'how did you first become aware of SLT/SLP?' tweet. I was overwhelmed by the responses I got. Reasons given have been consistent with the very limited amount of research in the literature.

• family members already SLT's/ SLP's or in other areas of healthcare that work closely with an SLT
• A family member/ friend that has received SLT
• Working in education (mainstream or learning disability) and having contact with an SLT
• Careers day at school/ college
• Careers matching service/ website                                           (thank you #slpeeps!)

On a personal level, I admit I didn't know what an SLT was until a few years ago. I wanted a career in sport initially and did a sport science degree. I then got a job in a school to get experience for teaching and found myself carrying out indirect SLT programmes with some children and had some training from the SLT - I was hooked and applied for my masters.

The way I think about it - we need to understand what influenced and motivated us to go through what is quite a tough process to become clinicians in order to influence others.

The one thing all your reasons had in common was that you had exposure to an SLT or at the very least information about SLT before you considered it as a career option. If people don't see it, how are they meant to decide they want to do what we do? I hope we can all continue to raise awareness through twitter, training others, giving voice and just by talking about what we do to other people.

Lauren   

Working abroad as a Newly Qualified SLT

Over the last few months I have been trying to decide what area of SLT I want to work in when I qualify in September. Most of my experience before getting a place on the course was in paediatrics but I have really enjoyed the adult acquired side of things this year.

One thing I have decided is that I really want to spend some time abroad - most of my friends have travelled or worked abroad since leaving school/university and every single one of them has loved their experience. At the moment I am not tied down so it feels a bit of a now or never situation. However, having dedicated 2 years of my life to becoming an SLT I really don't want to lose my clinical skills or miss out when (limited) job opportunities present themselves in the UK. 

I have looked into some options - volunteering with projects such as Operation Smile and private work with clients in countries such as Dubai. I must admit I am disappointed that you need 2 years clinical experience before you can consider working in the USA, Australia or New Zealand, however, I do understand that their graduate programmes have a different focus to British qualifications, and it is already a daunting prospect having a caseload in this country without added confusion!

So do I..

travel now whilst not tied down and needing a break OR wait until I have two years experience when I may gain more clinically?

Whilst the RCSLT offers some advice regarding working abroad, I don't think there is much information out there about the options. Can you still develop your skills? Is there any use for you if you don't speak other languages? Can you get your NQP competencies signed off if you work privately for one family? Would I be completely out of my depth with a lack of support/supervision?

With the research world and the twitter world being so close in terms of sharing information between different countries, I find it hard to believe it is so difficult to get information and seek out opportunities - I almost feel I'm missing something obvious!!

If anyone has any information about opportunities or has travelled/ worked abroad themselves I would love to hear from you- whether your experiences have been positive or negative...

Do one thing well or be average at many things?

 I am finally returning to my blog – and a very stressful week has had me thinking about whether I have taken on too much and whether I can keep it all going for the next 5 months before I finish my SLT course.

Yesterday saw me properly stressed for the first time in a long time – I got my essay in before the deadline with 9 minutes to spare and I know it wasn’t to the best of my ability so I find I am really annoyed at myself. On top of my post-grad SLT course I have managed to squeeze in 5 days of athletics training per week, this year working 1-2 days so I can fund myself rather than asking my parents for money all the time, am president of the university athletics club and have a healthy social life. Despite this, I normally finish my work way before any deadline and am keen to attend CPD events to enhance my CV.

I love SLT and I want to progress in my career as highly as I can. However, I have always had the mindset that one thing will not take over my life and transferable skills come from many avenues.

My problem at the moment is that whilst I am achieving many things I feel I am at risk of not being satisfied with my performance in any of them... I don’t like being average. I want to be better. I am competitive.  I have to-do lists coming out of my ears, papers all over my room and can never go anywhere without my diary. BUT I love being busy. I love SLT. I love running. I love organising events. I love my friends.

The point of my ramble is.. is it possible to take on too much? Is it better to concentrate on one thing and make sure it is done to the best of your ability? Or is it better to gain life experience, transferable skills and enjoy yourself along the way?

Lauren

3rd time lucky...

Hello,

This is the 3rd time I am posting for the 'first' time. Having not got to grips with the whole blog thing previously, I am determined to make it work this time! Plus I am about to guest-blog for Gemma from my course and I feel I should have probably set my own up by now.

I am an MSc Speech and Language Therapy student at University of Essex. I'm in my final year and looking forward to qualifying in oh about 7 months and 10 days.. not that I'm counting. I just can't wait to get out in the real world and put everything I have learnt in the last couple of years into practice.

I am writing a blog, mainly for a bit of self reflection. If anyone else reads it that will be a bonus! I also want somewhere for potential students to go as when I was researching my options before I began SLT I found it difficult to access any useful information.

Anyway, enough for now. Hopefully by the next time I blog I may have worked out how to make the page look a bit more interesting! Please feel free to comment/ criticise/ advise, I will welcome any feedback :)

Lauren