Speech-language pathology includes the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders (speech disorders and language disorders), cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists also play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (often in a team with pediatricians and psychologists).[1]
A common misconception is that speech-language pathology is restricted to the treatment of articulation disorders (e.g. helping English speaking individuals enunciate the traditionally difficult "r") and/or the treatment of individuals who stutter but, in fact, speech-language pathology is concerned with a broad scope of speech, language, literacy, swallowing, and voice issues involved in communication.[2]