Finding Accent Modification Clients

How do you go about finding accent modification clients? This is a question I get asked often. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to do accent modification (AM) full-time because of the cost for the clients. AM is not covered by insurance, so clients pay out of pocket. Therefore, they typically only want 3 or 4 sessions. Also, anyone can do AM because it is not a regulated service. Therefore, the cost really varies. I have seen it offered online for as low as $10 an hour. 😳

Getting Started

Most people tend to start with a few clients on the side while working their full-time job. Since most of the clients are working professionals, they prefer nights and weekends as well. A few ways people find clients:

• LinkedIn
• Teaching courses or workshops through community colleges
• Reaching out to university programs such as business schools, medical programs, or other programs at universities
• Instagram
• TikTok

*Speaking of universities, if you want to offer workshops, you can invite students from a local SLP graduate program to help! This will help the students get clinical contact hours and you will be able to divide your clients up into smaller groups for practice. Plus, clients LOVE graduate clinicians! It’s a win for everyone 💗

Resources

Thankfully, there are a growing number of resources for accent modification! So, once you do find clients, you know where to start. Below are a few that are specific to Speech-Language Pathology.

• CorSpan.org
• FB group: SLPs in Accent Modification (there are threads specific to this topic)
• ASHA practice portal on AM
• Book- How to do Accent Modification

For a list of more AM resources, check out my blog post Resources for Accent Modification. The growing list contains books, websites, YouTube channels, and online courses.

The resources I offer are growing as well. In March of 2022, I self-published a book that is available on Amazon. It is titled Speaking with an American Accent: A Guide to General American English Pronunciation

I am also on Instagram @global_speechie and TikTok @GlobalSpeechie, posting tips on AM and public speaking regularly.

How do you find accent modification clients? Let me know in the comments below 👇⬇️