Why is There a National Shortage of SLPs?

It is no secret that there a national shortage of Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), especially in school systems. In fact, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has "identified critical shortages of speech-language pathologists in all regions of the country, particularly in school settings."

But why are we facing a national shortage?

1. Growing Demand: The population of children requiring speech-language services has been increasing, resulting in a higher demand for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). This is due to factors such as improved diagnosis rates, increased awareness of speech and language disorders, and the importance of early intervention.

2. Aging Workforce: Many experienced SLPs are approaching retirement age, leading to a significant loss of professionals in the field. As they retire, there is a shortage of qualified SLPs to replace them, resulting in a gap between supply and demand.

3. Limited Program Capacity: The number of graduate programs for speech-language pathology is limited, and they often have limited capacity to accept students. This is mainly due to resource constraints, such as faculty availability, clinical training facilities, and funding. As a result, there are fewer new graduates entering the field compared to the demand for SLPs.

4. Regional Disparities: The shortage of SLPs is not evenly distributed across the country. Rural areas and underserved communities often face greater challenges in attracting and retaining qualified SLPs compared to more urban or affluent areas. This disparity can exacerbate the overall shortage of SLPs nationwide.

5. Increased Caseloads: The shortage of SLPs leads to increased caseloads for those already practicing in the field. With higher caseloads, clinicians may struggle to provide timely and quality therapy services to each child. This situation can lead to burnout and decreased job satisfaction, further contributing to the shortage of SLPs as professionals leave the field.

ASHA provides resources for recruiting and retaining SLPs in the schools that can be found at https://www.asha.org/careers/recruitment/schools/

Jessica Lenden-Holt, MA CCC-SLP

VP of Legislative Affairs

TAASLP