Being Human - Rockhurst University

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an “r.” Speech-based problems also include voicetroubles, like a pitch that’s too high or low forthe gender, or a tone that is nasal or hoarse.Language-based problems are broader.A person recovering from a stroke and tryingto rebuild a vocabulary would visit a speechpathologist. Other language difficulties includedelays, the child who significantly trails peersin vocabulary, or the child unable to grasplanguage’s subtleties.Speech pathologists also treat people withhearing difficulties — those who have cochlearimplants or hearing aids.“What’s interesting about the field, andsomething that attracts students, is that it’s aflexible career choice. You can work with thevery young or the very old. You can work inschools, hospitals or nursing homes,”says Chabon.The fact that speech pathologists can helpsuch a broad range of people is one reason thefield is booming. In the ’90s, speech-languagepathology was consistently ranked among thehot career opportunities of the new millennium.In fact, a few years ago the Bureau of Labor Statisticsput speech-language pathology on a list of40 high-need occupations, projecting a 46 percentincrease in the number of positions bythe year 2005.And that’s one reason for launching the program.The graduate division, which is offered atnight and part time, is ideally suited for workingprofessionals interested in career advancement.In fact, before starting the graduate program,Chabon met with area professionals to assessthe need.Their advice? “Do it,” says Chabon. “Theywere very, very encouraging.” In its first year,the program enrolled 21 students.The undergraduate program — the onlyone of its kind in the Kansas City area — drawson the expertise of three newly hired full-timefaculty. Plans for this fall call for an expandedprogram with nine new courses. This will allowstudents, for the first time, to complete all theirundergraduate degree requirements at Rockhurst.In the past, students in the program havespent their first three years at Rockhurst andtheir final year at Saint Louis University.Students will still have the option to participatein the cooperative program with SLU. Thiscollaboration, says Chabon, exposes students toIn DemandWhy the increase? A number of reasons,says Chabon, from advances in technologyto the graying of America.For example, with the increasing number ofelderly comes a growing pool of people recoveringfrom strokes or suffering from hearing loss.At the same time, medical advances mean prematurebabies have a higher chance of surviving,though most of them are at risk for languageand hearing difficulties.“Because there’s such a need for speech-languagepathologists, it’s an exciting time for thefield,” says Chabon.First-year graduate student Heather Harris goes to the Children’sSpot, a therapeutic preschool for children with disabilities, twicea week for a clinical internship. “They are at an age where theyare making a lot of gains, so I can see quite a bit of progress,”Harris says. (From left: Nicholas Kurland, Harris, Joshua Keith)ROCKHURST20
When Someone has aCommunication Problemnew experiences at an established and wellrespectedprogram that shares Rockhurst’s Jesuitmission and values.Another change for fall includes the availabilityof a “prep track” for students with a bachelor’sdegree in a different field who want toenter the master of science program.As if launching these programs weren’t challengeenough, Chabon and her colleagues aretackling a new endeavor: an online master’s programin speech pathology. Backed by a grantfrom the state’s Department of Elementary andSecondary Education, the program specificallytargets people working in Missouri schools. Thedegree is a collaborative effort with Rockhurst,Fontbonne College in St. Louis and SouthwestMissouri State University and will use facultyfrom each school.“We want to be able to reach as many studentsas possible,” says Chabon.“This will help.”Communicating with someone who has aspeech or hearing impediment doesn’t requireany special language skills. Good old-fashionedkindness and common sense should do thetrick. Keep these thoughts in mind when youtalk with someone who speaks or hears differentlythan you do.• Ask the person if you are communicatingwell. Remember, the person who hasbeen living with the struggle is theexpert. He or she can best tell you howto make the message clear, whether it’sraising the volume or slowing the tempo.• Make eye contact. Face-to-facecommunicating lets the person knowyou’re paying attention. It can alsohelp convey emotion.• Don’t talk down. Because someonehas a speech or hearing impedimentdoes not mean the person’s vocabularyis impaired. Speak in an age-appropriatemanner.• Don’t avoid people with speech orhearing difficulties. Many people avoidinitiating conversations with people whohave impairments out of embarrassment.Don’t. Remember that words are tools.Communicating comes from theheart and you might miss out on theconversation of your life if you shunthose who are different from yourself.Nicholas Kurland, Heather Harris21 SPRING 2000
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