By Jennifer Fusco

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nation will need about 120,000 speech-language pathologists by 2012 to meet the increasing demand and replace retiring workers. In 2002, about 94,000 speech-language pathologists worked nationwide.

Montclair State, which is one of only four state schools that offer a master's program in speech-langauge pathology, is a leader in graduating experienced, licensed pathologists, but can it keep up with the demand?

"I don't think anybody has gotten a handle on why there is such a shortage," said Joseph Attanasio of Communication Sciences and Disorders. One of the factors, he said, could be that the field is not lucrative. "The salary and benefits are approximately the same for elementary and secondary school teachers. There are more career and financial advantages in other fields." Licensed speech pathologists can work in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and private practice.

There are approximately 75 students enrolled in the Speech-Language Pathology program. This year, more than 200 students applied for one of approximately 40 seats available in the program.

Gretchen Beideman, a graduate student studying language pathology, works with a 10-year-old client in the University's Communication Disorders Clinic.

Only about half of those enrolled in the program have received undergraduate degrees in speech pathology. "Undergraduates usually don't know about the field unless they have a family member who has a speech-language disorder or they themselves have a communication disorder," Attanasio said. "They know about psychology, business, history, English. It's an occupation that's often discovered later."

Of the other 50 percent enrolled, undergraduate majors range from classical languages and music to psychology and anthropology. These are the career-changers, students who come in without the background who are discovering the field and want to make a difference.The program was refashioned in the late '80s, explained Attanasio, to accommodate those types of students.

In addition to being nationally accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (meaning it meets all of the requirements for professional education in speech-language pathology as defined by the organization), part of what makes Montclair State's program so respected is the on-site Communication Disorders Clinic.

A clinical training component has been part of the program since the '50s and the facility has been in existence since 1968. The purpose of the clinic is twofold: it provides the initial training for graduate students and serves as a resource for the campus and community.

"Our first responsibility is to our students," said Clinic Coordinator Heidi Fuld. "Students spend three semesters training in the clinic, doing diagnostic evaluation and therapy with progressively more responsibility." Sessions are supervised by licensed speech pathologists. In addition to Fuld, there are two clinical supervisors and five faculty members on staff. Students complete 100 training hours on campus, then one year, or approximately 400 hours, of off-campus training.

"The clinic serves an average of 40 clients per semester, ranging from pediatrics through geriatrics with the whole gamut of disorders from aphasia to articulation, stuttering and more," said Fuld. "Three- to 5-year-olds are our biggest group, but we are seeing a lot of referrals for adults who are not covered as long in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, post-stroke. We also see a lot of children who don't qualify by the state to receive therapy, but who still need services."

The clinic's clients are representative of the growing demand for speech services in the country. More parents are taking a pro-active approach if they suspect their preschool age child is not reaching certain developmental milestones and children are being diagnosed much earlier. Federal legislation mandates school districts to have services to meet the needs of every special education student requiring speech therapy. Medical technology even plays a role. "With exceptionally young preemies being kept alive, we're seeing disorders later on in life," explained Fuld.

The on-site clinic was one of the reasons Allison Finkelstein, who is finishing her last semester of classes in the program before working in a hospital this summer, chose Montclair State. After earning a degree in elementary education and becoming a certified teacher, Finkelstein decided to pursue an advanced degree in communication sciences and disorders. "I had the opportunity to observe other professions in the school system," she said. "It appealed to me to have one-on-one time with the kids. It's more specialized."

Working at the clinic, Finklestein said, was a unique experience. "I felt comfortable because I was being supervised, yet I got a chance to work with a wide variety of clients. The population you get to come in contact with is extraordinary. The main goal is to help other people. That's rewarding to me and worth more than the financial aspect."

Fred Shaw is one of only four males in the program. He came to Montclair State two and a half years ago after a 20-year career in advertising. "I ended up getting laid off and it was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said. "I did a lot of soul-searching and decided I wanted to do something that was worthwhile."

Ironically, at the time, Shaw's daughter was receiving speech therapy so he was familiar with the field, and after working with a career coach, it seemed like a natural choice. "Getting to work with all different kinds of people was appealing to me. This is still a fairly new profession in terms of visibility."

While interest in the field may be growing, Attanasio is concerned about the future. "My real fear is the shortage of academics. Without them, it's not going to matter what the demand is if there is no one who can educate," he said. "Ten years from now speech pathology could be a unit in some other department. We could lose our professional identity and autonomy."

Fuld, though, remains optimistic. "With programs increasing in the state and metropolitan area, you've got to believe that these needs will be met."