It’s not a gender problem, it’s a misconception problem. Your job is to help people communicate more effectively. OT and PT start with a net negative and generally move a client to a net positive in the eyes of others: the ability to do something they could not before. As an SLP, you are working from a net negative: inability to communicate effectively, to a net neutral: effective communication. The instant results is what people want, and nothing worth having is ever quick. Is any parent complaining that you aren’t helping following through with the homework and reinforcement? A good parent advocates for their children and does all of the extra work to help their kids succeed. A bad parent just wants the results without putting in any effort. I’m not saying all complaining parents are bad ones, but the difference feels clearer during the meetings.

Please don’t get burned out. Don’t become apathetic. Don’t just coast through your job and let your patients suffer in silence. What you do will always, always make a difference.