Education of Speech-Language Pathologists in the United Kingdom

Montgomery, Judy K., Communication Disorders Quarterly

From the Field connects you with clinicians and practitioners in speech-language pathology. Each issue you will meet a professional selected for an in-depth interview on a highly practical topic. The interviews are conducted by the editor of From the Field, Judy K. Montgomery, PhD, CCC-SLP, at Chapman University in Orange, California. Suggestions for future interviews should be sent to Kathy Coufal, CDQ Editor, Wichita State University, 401A Ahlberg Hall, 1845 Fairmont St., Wichita, KS, 67260; e-mail: kathy.coufal@wichita.edu

The education of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United Kingdom and Ireland has many parallels with the university programs in the United States. A comparison of the two also reveals several differences. I know several SLPs who have moved to Ireland to assume excellent positions; furthermore, I recently met three other professionals who have relocated from Ireland to California to work in the schools and hospitals there. Thus, it is important to understand educational programs beyond our borders. This interview with Sister Marie de Monfort Supple of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, provides such art opportunity. I met Sister Marie in 1995 at the International Association of Logopedics and Phonetrics (IALP) Conference in Cairo, Egypt. She has been a dynamic international leader in speech-language pathology issues for several decades and is often present at ASHA conferences. I have visited Trinity College twice and hold my colleagues there in high esteem. In this interview, Sister Marie offers a thoughtful review of the educational process in the UK and Ireland.

Q: Would you please set the stage for us with a brief historical review of speech-language pathology?

A: Communication disorders have existed since humans developed oral communication skills. This is evidenced in the references found in the records of most civilizations. In the Old Testament, one of the earliest written histories, it is noted that the prophet Moses had a communication disorder, possibly the first documented case of a speech and language disorder! Ancient Greek literature also provides references to such problems. In Ireland, the law of the seventh--eighth …

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Publication information: Article title: Education of Speech-Language Pathologists in the United Kingdom. Contributors: Montgomery, Judy K. - Author. Journal title: Communication Disorders Quarterly. Volume: 27. Issue: 2 Publication date: Winter 2006. Page number: 117+. © 2007 Sage Publications, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group.

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