Davetrina Seles Gadson, speech-language pathologist (SLP) at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, discusses the diversity of tasks that a SLP can engage in and the value of helping people communicate.
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TRANSCRIPT
Davetrina Seles Gadson:
"I became an SLP because I knew that there was diversity in this field, and I knew that I would have the opportunity to help people communicate. Eight years now in this profession, I wouldn't have it any other way. My name is Davetrina Seles Gadson, and I am a speech-language pathologist.
One thing that I really enjoy about my day is that it's definitely not routine.
[Gadson to her patient, "You'll say them, and then I'll repeat them after you."]
From working with patients with voice disorders to neurological disabilities and speech to swallowing -- sometimes it might include community outings or working with other therapists to make sure that we're treating the entire patient.
One of the most exciting experiences that I've had is working as a travel SLP. I've lived in Chicago. I've lived in Dallas. So, just having that opportunity, as well as building my career is something that this field has supported me. My patients inspire me. They have a magnificent ability to be resilient. So [inaudible] is a 19-year-old college student who had a brain tumor. One thing that prompted this type of outing is that [inaudible] expressed that she likes to eat out a lot, and her friends and family were ordering for her because of her fear of not being understood. So today was a perfect opportunity to take her out, have her order for herself, and build that confidence that she is intelligible and people understand her. Knowing that [inaudible] is so close to returning to college and the community is such a rewarding feeling that it's hard to put in words. She is an amazing person, and to have met her at this junction in her life is, I think, more beneficial to me than her. Yeah."
10 апр 2013
