1. What is a speech-language pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) works with people who have difficulties in communication (language, speech, voice) or with swallowing disorders. The SLP must have a master’s degree from an accredited university in speech-language pathology. The course-work for an SLP focuses on the sciences, such as anatomy, acoustics, and physiology as well as linguistics, theories of language acquisition, and phonology. The training is extensive and includes clinical internships and a post-degree fellowship year.
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national organization that confers the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) to individuals who meet specific criteria for professional membership. For more information about speech pathology, you may want to visit ASHA’s website at: www.asha.org.

2. Why would I need these services?

A wide variety of individuals would benefit from speech and language services:
• A newly promoted vice president who has a way of speaking that was fine when he worked on the factory floor, but is hampering him in the boardroom now.
• A young professional woman who finds that no one takes her seriously because her voice is too quiet and high-pitched.
• An international business executive who discovers that his English is not quite as good as he thought - he knows the words but no one seems to understand him and he is always repeating himself.
• A computer engineer who is informed that he must now present his ideas and speak in front of clients and his peers instead of just sending in his reports.
• A pilot or air traffic controller (ATC) who needs to improve his English pronunciation and Standard Aviation Terminology to conform to conform to ICAO standards.
• An actor who is trying to break into voice-overs but is told his delivery is flat, he mispronounces his words and he needs to acquire a “universal” dialect.
• A physician who realizes that his patients have difficulty understanding him and he really cannot understand them very well, either.
• An attorney who needs to improve his non-verbal presentation skills in the courtroom.
• A highly skilled engineer whose supervisor informs him that his written reports have numerous grammatical errors and are disorganized.

These are only a few of the possible reasons for speech and language training. Anyone who wishes to improve his or her skills in verbal, non-verbal or written communication would benefit from training. Barringer Consultants is able to offer a customized training program to suit each individual rather than assign an individual into a programmed course.

3. I have lived with speech and language problems all of my life. How can you fix it now?

To paraphrase Mark Twain, there is nothing that training cannot help. Just because you have lived with speech, language or voice problems all of your life (however long or short a time that may be!) does not mean that nothing can be done to improve the situation. Although there are no absolute guarantees about outcome, if you feel that there is a problem and it is adversely affecting your life, it is sensible to explore the possibilities for improvement.
Individuals may have numerous communication difficulties. Some, such as poor grammar, limited vocabulary, or poor pronunciation, may be the product of lack of training. Others, such as over-using colorful metaphors (swearing), may be just a bad habit. Others may be more serious and have a medical basis and require extensive intervention and, as in the case of certain voice problems, may require a physician’s examination and diagnosis before any rehabilitation is attempted.
Barringer Consultants offers the first consultation at no charge. You are free to meet with an expert and discuss your personal needs and goals for improvement.

4. Does health insurance cover your services?

Health insurance may cover certain services, such as voice therapy or certain other rehabilitative speech services. But, most health insurances do not cover accent reduction, or language instruction or training. It’s important to check with your individual health care provider.
Some employers may cover these expenses for their employees. Corporations and businesses recognize the need for their personnel to communicate effectively with their customers and with each other, whether through improved grammar and writing skills or effective presentation skills. The employee’s improved communication skills enhance the company’s image and ultimately affect the bottom line. Check with your employer to see if these services may be covered as continued education.

5. Are your services confidential?

All training received through Barringer Consultants is completely confidential. However, many individuals choose to share their experiences. You may review their remarks in the Testimonials section.