Occupational Therapy vs. Speech-Language Pathology

Have you ever wondered about the distinctions between speech-language pathology (SLP) vs. occupational therapy (OT)? These two professions share similar characteristics while serving different purposes with unique specialty preparations. Both professions are common in schools and clinics, with healthcare services extending to children, adults, and families throughout the lifespan.

If you are considering becoming an allied health professional in either speech-language pathology or occupational therapy, this blog is for you. We will outline the roles and responsibilities of each pathway, including educational requirements, salary information, and potential employment settings to help you understand more about these options for a deeply meaningful career.

What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) explains that SLPs are experts in communication. They work with people of all ages and address commonly encountered difficulties with:

• Speech sounds
• Language and literacy
• Voice and fluency
• Feeding and swallowing

The roots of these issues may be developmental, injury-related, or secondary to cognitive impairment resulting from trauma, aging, or other unique situations. Sometimes, the conditions are reversible, while other times, the goal of speech therapy is to improve quality of life and communication abilities. Speech-language pathologists help their clients experience improved learning, effective social interaction, and meaningful relationships.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

When comparing SLP vs. OT roles, the overlap is largely found in the goals of therapy and the tailored treatment plans delivered to clients. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), an OT specifically focuses on helping people carry out the things they desire to do, their “occupations,” including activities of daily living.

Examples of situations that an OT may help their clients with include:

• Regaining everyday function post-injury or illness
• Optimizing physical and cognitive skills to support healthy aging
• Improving participation in school and social events for people with disabilities
• Assisting with workplace ergonomics and approaches to accommodate unique needs

Both OTs and SLPs strive to create effective partnerships with those they serve, setting measurable goals while celebrating success and working through setbacks. The professions utilize the best available research evidence to promote science-based therapy that effectively produces progress in communication and other essential aspects of meaningful living.

What are the Educational Requirements to Become an SLP or OT?

To become a speech-language pathologist, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required, along with specialty certification that can be achieved through successful passing of the Praxis examination. Supervised clinical hours are also required for SLP licensure. There are several diverse career paths available for those with a master’s in speech-language pathology.

Likewise, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required to become an OT. Some OTs progress to earn doctoral credentials and attain certification through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Licensure to practice as an OT is required.

In both professions, continuing education and commitment to ongoing professional development are necessary to maintain credentials and currency for effective practice. When comparing the SLP vs. occupational therapist curricula, both may include content on topics such as:

• Assessment and intervention techniques
• Anatomy and physiology
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Human development

Teachers and parents of children who receive speech-language pathology or occupational therapy may frequently encounter these professionals in educational settings, but these specialists also work directly within the medical system alongside technicians and nurses. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the places where SLPs and OTs are employed.

Where do SLPs and OTs Work?

There are a wide variety of settings where SLPs and OTs work. Many therapists choose a specific area of clinical focus that helps determine the scope of services offered.

Hospitals

When recovery from illness, injury, or surgery is the primary context of therapy, SLPs and OTs may be found working in hospital settings. Collaboration is common between both professions, with SLPs focusing more on speech and communication while OTs promote functional independence and increased participation in activities of daily living.

Types of situations requiring speech-language pathology or occupational therapy in the hospital may include:

• Recovery from neurological issues such as stroke or traumatic brain injury
• Recovering from cognitive impairment or optimizing life with dementia
• Recovery from physical or cognitive impairments that affect oral intake

Home Health Care

For individuals with mobility challenges, care is delivered by SLPs and OTs in the home, nursing home, assisted living community, or long-term care facility. For individuals experiencing challenges maintaining or returning to activities of daily living (ADLs), care may be addressed in different ways by both occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. Occupational therapists may work with physical limitations and mobility while speech-language pathologists may work to identify safe and effective ways to communicate in the home environment.

Community Health Centers

Within public health and community-based programs, SLPs and OTs provide a range of services to support rehabilitation and early intervention. These services may be offered through advocacy initiatives for underserved and potentially marginalized populations, promoting awareness and access to needed resources.

Schools

Conditions affecting communication and learning are integral to speech-language pathology and occupational therapy practice in school-based settings, where effective participation in school activities is vital to the social and intellectual development of children. Services are offered in settings such as preschools, special education programs, and public and private institutions.

SLPs and OTs help students, teachers, and families navigate conditions such as:

• Learning disabilities
• Developmental delays
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Sensory processing disorders

Pediatric therapy can also be obtained in outpatient clinics, sometimes as a supplement to therapy received and implemented in school-based settings.

Outpatient Clinics

Diagnostic assessment and specialized therapies are provided to individuals of all ages by speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists in outpatient clinics and private practices. SLPs may implement interventions using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to enhance or enable communication, while OTs may focus on general sensory and motor skills to improve function.

Now that we have explored the different work settings for SLPs and OTs let’s compare the salary outlook for these professional roles.

What are the Salaries for SLP and OT Professionals?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, SLPs earned a median salary of approximately $84,140 annually in May 2022, equating to an hourly rate of $40.45 for speech therapy services. Occupational therapists earned slightly higher salaries, with a mean annual wage of $92,800 or $42.61 hourly.

The speech-language pathology profession is anticipated to have a favorable job outlook from 2022 to 2032, with a projected 19% growth rate that is much faster than average for all occupations. A master’s degree is typical for entry-level SLP practice, with an additional 13,200 jobs anticipated each year over the decade.

Take Your First Step to a Fulfilling OT or SLP Career with Ithaca College

With a 100-year legacy of SLP education, Ithaca College is known for equipping graduates with the knowledge and clinical skills to succeed in this rapidly growing profession. You can get started on your fulfilling SLP or OT career with a master’s degree from Ithaca College today.

Program features of the Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) at Ithaca College include:

• An immersive curriculum with 100% online coursework
• Completion timelines of three years or less
• No on-campus residency requirement
• Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Clinical placement support is provided by a dedicated team who will help you find and secure an appropriate site for hands-on field learning, saving you time and bringing you peace of mind. Your focus can remain on your studies while you engage in a connected online experience with virtual simulations, supportive faculty, and a diverse community of peers.

The college also offers an on-campus OT program with more information available through Ithaca’s Department of Occupational Therapy.