You Know You Are an SLP If…

• You reach into your bag and find a collection of toothettes, packets of ThickIt, and tongue depressors that could last for days.

• You see a new memory card game/flashcard set in the dollar section at Target and can’t resist the need to throw it in your cart.

• You’ve seen closets larger than your office (if you have an office…)

• The phrase 90% productivity sends shivers up and down your spine.

• You choke and immediately envision the current path the aspirated liquid is taking… and can’t help but comment on it to your non-SLP friends, who of course are really confused.

• You find grammatical errors to be akin to nails on a chalkboard.

• Your Type A personality leads you to organize your spouse’s belongings… but you’re too overworked to find time to organize your own closet… erm… office.

• You can’t help but internally diagnose various speech, language, and cognitive disorders while watching TV.

• You wear earplugs at concerts (gotta protect those cilia!)

• You find yourself internally questioning your own pragmatic judgment daily.

• You have a collection of newspapers you keep meaning to bring into work to use as therapy stimuli.

• You inevitably have to explain that you don’t just work with small children with lisps and /r/ trouble whenever someone actually delves into asking what you do as an SLP.

• You speak the SLP secret language (including all the acronyms as well as IPA).

• You find typically developing children to be geniuses. I mean, really, HOW ON EARTH did they pick up all those words AND learn to negotiate with peers on their own!?

• You couldn’t imagine a more rewarding career!

What are the things that make you unique as an SLP? Tell us in the comments below!