Meet Lelac Badakian | Speech language pathologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lelac Badakian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lelac, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
“My speech is fine” or “I don’t need help talking” are only a couple of statements I have heard throughout my career as a speech language pathologist (SLP). Sometimes I wonder if a better name for my role would be articulation, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, cognitive therapist (ALVFWCT) but it might leave people more confused.

In 2012, between hospitalizations and dialysis for my dad, and community college and full-time work for myself, I came across someone in my dad’s hospital room, writing letters on a whiteboard to help him communicate while intubated. “Why didn’t I think of that?” I thought to myself as I watched him spell the name of the NBA team playing on TV. On another day, that same person assessed his ability to chew and swallow at bedside. Little did I know, almost ten years later, I would be doing that for others as my career.

Many people who experience a new norm following a change in health hear the words “speech therapist” and instantly report they don’t need help talking. “Well… I also work on swallowing and cognitive difficulties like memory, executive functioning, and attention. Are you experiencing any difficulties in those areas?” and typically the response is: YES!

Based on the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), “Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.” That sounds like a lot more than “just” speech. While it sounds really nice on paper, the field of speech language pathology encompasses a WIDE array of communication, cognitive, swallowing, fluency, and voice disorders in all ages. That is A LOT of studying, A LOT of research, and A LOT of finding answers to questions we may not know from memory.

So, if your physician ever refers you to a speech therapist/speech language pathologist/SLP, be mindful that we are assessing way more than your ability to talk.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Finding my career did not come easy or naturally. As a first-generation college student who decided to go the community college route, I continued to discover different classes, topics, and careers outside of the usual doctor and lawyer route. During the midst of my community college era, I lost my father to kidney failure. It was the hardest time of my life when I realized the rest of the world does not stop, even when you want yours to.

Following my community college era, I continued my undergraduate studies at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), where a college counselor told me to find a different career because my 3.4 GPA was not good enough for graduate school. As a 20-something year old working at Starbucks full-time while going to school full-time, I felt completely defeated. I continued on my journey with no backup plan.

In 2018, after multiple application cycles, I was finally accepted to graduate school at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. There, I was valued for my life-experiences and adversity, not my GPA or GRE score. After almost two years of being a full-time student and being the first from my family to graduate college, there was a major plot twist to my happy ending: The COVID-19 pandemic. I wore my academic regalia in my apartment living room and called it my graduation.

Being a COVID grad came with its own set of challenges when the job market in the medical field, along with any onboarding, was put on pause (rightfully so, people were literally dying). This time period in my life was a complete blur as I packed up jobless, moved back to Los Angeles, and started my career as a SLP in a pretty mediocre gig.

Throughout my life as a student and now professional, I’ve learned and continue to practice fostering my life outside of my career by setting reasonable boundaries. The demands of our jobs make it easy to forget that life is passing by one day at a time. As much as our careers are a big part of our lives, so are our partners, families, friends, passions, and hobbies. Make time for what is important to you, because one day you will only have memories.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start at HiHo Burgers in Santa Monica and then walk over to its neighbor Ouvo for freshly made Italian pasta. If you didn’t know, you can order from one and walk to the other since they are owned by the same person. Burgers and pasta what could possible go wrong?!

As a SoCal girl born and raised, the Westward Beach would have to be the next stop. It has a semi-private feel compared to other nearby beaches and the best place for dolphin watching. While you’re there, try Malibu Seafood for some fish and chips or Duke’s for happy hour.
A walk at the Griffith Observatory or The Getty Center is a must for Los Angeles views and vibes. You’d also be surprised that out-of-towners don’t really get the theme park experience like you do in Los Angeles, so sneak in a day trip to Universal Studios if you can.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Grief was (and is) a huge part of my life as a young adult navigating life outside of my little bubble. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom is a book I read that made me smile, cry, and feel what I needed to feel on those harder days. If you haven’t read it- rent it, buy it, download it.

Instagram: speakeasywithme

Other: TikTok: lelacbad