Becoming speech therapists and audiologists in Taiwan: Motivating factors

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined the factors that motivate Taiwanese students to pursue careers as speech-language pathologists (SLP) and audiologists (AUD), and how these factors vary across demographic groups.

Method

In this study, a repeated cross-sectional survey design was adopted; questionnaires were administered to 756 students enrolled in the Introduction to Communication Disorders course from 2015 to 2022.

Results

Career decisions were shaped by a range of motivating factors, with notable variation by demographic group. Career-motivating factors were the most influential, particularly job security (98.5 %), income (97.4 %), and job availability (97 %). Personal motivating factors, such as the desire to work in a service-oriented profession (92.1 %) and with people (92.4 %), were also significant. Educational motivating factors, like career guidance tests (70.9 %), were the least influential.

Conclusions

Findings underscore the need to promote the profession using strategies that combine practical benefits with personal narratives. Cultural comparisons revealed that Taiwanese students prioritize economic stability, differing from Indian students, who are more influenced by family, and Ghanaian students, for whom educational exposure plays a larger role. The study highlights the importance of sex-sensitive recruitment, family-targeted outreach, and university–high school collaboration to strengthen the future workforce. It also contributes to the global understanding of career decision-making in speech-language pathology and audiology.