OT vs. PT vs. SLP; Differences and Similarities

The rehabilitation therapy team is the term used to refer to occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy combined. Although they are collectively called rehabilitation therapy, there are some differences among them. A collaborative approach is important in medicine, therefore, it is important to educate people on how these therapies are similar to each other. Since the first term coined in this article is “Rehabilitation therapy”, let’s start by defining it.

Defining Rehabilitation Therapy

Assessments and intervention along with other treatments are a part of rehabilitation therapy. The team of doctors unites to provide occupational and physical therapy with speech-language pathology professionals taking care of the patients. These patients have some disability or are suffering from a disease or injury.

This team of doctors helps patients do their daily activities such as walking, eating, or changing clothes.

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapists make sure that their patients live a normal life, patients usually have an injury or illness. These therapists help patients with dressing, bathing, and cooking so that the patients can have normalcy in their life.

An occupational therapist might use some assistive technology or splinting to improve the patient’s life. Keep in mind that this holistic treatment is designed to benefit the patient for the long term. It includes improving their mental health as well, which improves after the person is able to do their daily tasks with assistance.

What is physical therapy?

As the name suggests, physical therapy involves treating a physical impairment with the help of exercise or by using manual therapy. Physical therapy is known as a rather conservative therapy that doesn’t involve medications.

The exercises make movements easier and relax certain muscle groups so the patient can move easily with no pain. It is also a holistic treatment but therapists focus on specific intervention so that the patient can walk, sit or stand up easily.

What is speech-language pathology?

People who have trouble speaking or swallowing seek a speech-language pathologist. The goal of a speech-language pathologist is to improve the fluency, speech production, language, cognition, and resonance of the person. Speech problems are not just related to talking but swallowing as well.

SLPs provide both rehabilitative and habilitative services. Rehabilitative services include assisting patients to gain the ability they lost. Habilitative services include assisting patients to maintain the abilities that they have, for example, swallowing or eating food.

The goal of this therapy is to improve the standard of the patient’s life. SLPs work closely with the patients and their family members so that the patient can retain their relationship and together work on a holistic treatment approach.

Not being able to communicate effectively with people around you or swallow properly can have an adverse effect on a person’s social life. Therefore, SLPs work to resolve all such problems depending on the situation of their patient.

Now that you understand how to define these three types of therapies, it is important to focus on the similarities and differences.

OT vs. PT vs. SLP; Similarities

The main similarity between these career paths is the need to make a patient’s life easier and better than before.

• There are a few areas where these three therapies overlap.

• The progress in treatment is similar. Starting with initial evaluations to progress notes and discharges.

• A caregiver is assigned to the patient depending on the patient’s specific needs. The caregiver begins the treatment with an end goal in mind which they discuss with the patient.

• Although the treatments in each type of therapy have unique ways, the type of treatments is similar in all of these therapies.

• Similar work settings such as inpatient rehab, home health, pediatric division, LTAC, and outpatient setting.

• Discharge recommendations are made in all three types of therapies after the patient is admitted.

• Participation in research and education is equal.

• Assessing a patient’s environment so their actions can be made independent with ease.

All three types of therapies work with similar people, for example, children or older people. Hand therapy and pelvic health are PT and OT specialty while cognitive health is the main area of OTs and SLPs. It includes working with patients who have dementia or other neural disorders.

What are the Differences?

It is important to know the difference between these therapies so people know which one they need. The similarities focus on how these therapies can be used with each other but not interchangeably.

Occupational Therapist

The uniqueness in an OTs job is that they use a holistic approach. Whether it is helping a patient with driving or walking, OTs make their patient’s life easier. Plus, OTs can use splinting or other assistive devices as well. Other than this, OTs can also pursue a career in mental health. OTs can, in fact, focus on many areas depending on what they want to specialize in. It includes:

• Gerontology
• Mental Health
• Pediatrics
• Driving or community mobility
• School systems
• Environmental modifications

Occupational therapists can also work with people with speech or voice disorders but the way they encounter the problem is different. While SLPs only focus on voice and swallowing, OTs take in other aspects as well. For example, if an OT is treating an autistic kid, they will take a holistic approach by looking at the long-term benefits.

They can also help the patient with speech disorder by correcting their posture or helping the patient attain the right posture. This will help the patient with swallowing problems. So, even though the end goal is to improve a patient’s lifestyle, the approach is different.

Speech-language pathologist

SLPs are unique because of their important work on swallowing and speaking. These two extremely important functions are the main focus of SLPs and they design a treatment plan to achieve the end goals. Augmentative and alternative communication technology is also used by them along with instrumental evaluations. These technologies are great to help patients speak normally or retain their voice. You can’t restrict an SLP to one niche, which is what sets them apart. Their area of work is so diverse that they can also focus on transgender lifestyles and communication.

Physical Therapist

PTs work with athletes, famous players, and people who have movement problems. They relieve the tension in muscles, the end goal being easy and effortless movements. PTs can work with cats and dogs as well. They focus on pain and are constantly trying to understand it better so patients can get rid of it. So, PTs can work in animal rehabilitation.

What is the job growth in these careers?

OT, PT, and SLP are very much in demand if a person wants to pursue a career in health care or rehabilitation services. Since all of these careers include taking care of patients in order to improve their lifestyle, the healthcare industry requires such people.
Occupational therapy has boomed since the need to take care of baby boomers with chronic conditions has increased. Another reason for the high demand for OTs is the professional care given to patients.

Similarly, the aging population also needs speech-language pathologists to be able to talk to their loved ones. For example, an SLP for a grandfather who can then communicate with their grandkids. In order to become an SLP, usually, a master’s degree is required since this profession includes a lot of training necessary to be able to help the patients.