Provides professional speech, language, and/or audiology services to individuals with swallowing, cognitive and communicative disabilities such as cognitive communication disorders, dysphagia, language or articulation disorders, hearing loss or impairments, dysfluency, voice disorders or motor speech disorders.

Independently assesses and treats patient caseload which includes planning, evaluating and treating patients.

Identifies and evaluates hearing, language, cognition, swallowing, communication and speech abilities using various diagnostic tools;

Develops treatment programs in collaboration with physicians, speech pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, dietitians, respiratory therapists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, counselors and/or teachers;

Confers with family, clinical personnel, teachers, and other professional staff in the evaluation, treatment, and progression of clients;

Provides non-medical rehabilitation services to persons when appropriate, including: hearing aid selection, fitting and training procedures, use of auditory training equipment, application of audiometry training, speech reading, sign language training and counseling procedures, and preventative hearing conservation measures;

Uses appropriate treatment methods for receptive and expressive language disorders, cognitive communication disorders, swallowing disorders, aural habilitation/rehabilitation, articulation and voice disorders, stuttering and development of alternative means of communication (e.g., language board, sign language, etc.);

Uses equipment and other specialized apparatus’ appropriately for assessment and treatment;

Assists with research and program development under the direction of higher-level staff; and

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: principles and techniques of speech pathology and language development; swallowing physiology, anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vocal mechanisms; phonetics, speech and voice science; specialized equipment and testing techniques used in evaluation and treatment of hearing and other communication disorders associated with hearing impairment; principles and techniques of aural habilitation/rehabilitation; educational and psychological needs of persons with communicative disorders; language development; principles of psychology and child development.

Ability to: establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups; speak and write effectively; use special equipment for evaluation and remediation of cognitive, communication and swallowing disorders; work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Licensed by the State of Washington as a Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

In addition to the identified legal requirements above:

A Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Equivalent education/experience.

New classification: Speech Pathologist/Audiologist Specialist 1, class code: 308D, range 60; adopted June 23, 2025; effective July 1, 2025.