American Speech–Language–Hearing Association

The American Speech–Language–Hearing Association, commonly known as ASHA, is a United States professional association serving practitioners and researchers in communication sciences and disorders. Its principal professional communities include speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Although centered in the United States, the association also has an international reach through its professional membership, standards, publications, educational activity, and engagement with the wider speech, language, and hearing field. ASHA traces its origins to 1925, when the American Academy of Speech Correction was established in the home of Lee Edward Travis in Iowa City, Iowa. The founding group consisted of professionals and academics interested in the systematic study and correction of speech disorders. The organization changed its name several times as the field expanded beyond speech correction. In 1927 it became the American Society for the Study of Disorders of Speech, in 1934 the American Speech Correction Association, and in 1947 the American Speech and Hearing Association. The current name, American Speech–Language–Hearing Association, was adopted in 1978, reflecting a broader understanding of communication, language, and hearing practice. The association's work extends beyond membership services. It supports professional communities through standards, credentialing-related resources, continuing education, special interest groups, research communication, advocacy, and publications. ASHA members may include audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech-language-hearing scientists, while affiliates and other participants contribute to the broader professional network. The organization reported more than 234,000 members and affiliates in its 2023 report. A significant institutional function connected with ASHA is the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech–Language Pathology. The council serves as the association's accreditation unit and establishes standards for graduate education in the field. Its accreditation activity covers graduate programs leading to master's-level preparation in speech-language pathology and clinical doctoral preparation in audiology. Through this role, ASHA is connected to the education and entry-level preparation of future practitioners. ASHA is headquartered at 2200 Research Boulevard in Rockville, Maryland, and also maintains an office on Capitol Hill. Its national presence therefore combines professional association administration with policy and public-affairs engagement. As of January 2022, Vicki R. Deal-Williams served as the association's chief executive officer. ASHA is best understood not as a conventional consumer brand but as a membership, standards, accreditation, advocacy, and professional-information organization whose name signals authority within communication sciences and disorders.

ASHA was established in 1925 as the American Academy of Speech Correction. The organization formed during an era when speech correction and the scientific study of communication disorders were becoming more organized as academic and professional fields. Its founding meeting took place in the home of Lee Edward Travis in Iowa City, Iowa. The charter membership included educators, clinicians, and researchers whose work addressed speech and communication disorders. The association's successive name changes reflect the broadening scope of its mission. In 1927, it became the American Society for the Study of Disorders of Speech. In 1934, it adopted the name American Speech Correction Association. The 1947 name, American Speech and Hearing Association, recognized that hearing had become an important part of the organization's professional domain. In 1978, the association adopted its current name, American Speech–Language–Hearing Association, signaling an even more comprehensive focus on speech, language, and hearing. Over time, ASHA developed from a specialist association into a large professional institution serving several related communities. Its membership base includes speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. The association also supports special interest groups that allow members to engage with specific areas of communication sciences and disorders. Its activities include professional education, publications, practice guidance, standards development, advocacy, and the dissemination of information relevant to clinical and scientific work. The Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech–Language Pathology is the accreditation unit associated with ASHA. The council establishes standards for graduate programs that prepare speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Accreditation is available for graduate programs leading to master's-level preparation in speech-language pathology and clinical doctoral preparation in audiology. This gives ASHA an important role in shaping educational expectations and entry-level preparation within the professions. ASHA's national office is located at 2200 Research Boulevard in Rockville, Maryland. The association also has an office on Capitol Hill, supporting its engagement with federal policy and public affairs. Its professional reach extends beyond the United States through international members, affiliates, and the circulation of its educational and professional resources. The association reported more than 234,000 members and affiliates in 2023, illustrating the scale of its contemporary network. As of January 2022, Vicki R. Deal-Williams served as chief executive officer. In its modern form, ASHA functions across several connected domains: it provides a professional home for practitioners and scientists, contributes to educational and accreditation standards, communicates research and practice information, and represents issues affecting communication sciences and disorders. Its historical evolution from a speech-correction organization to an association encompassing language and hearing mirrors the expansion of the professions it serves.

• 2023

  Membership and affiliate network reported

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ASHA reported more than 234,000 members and affiliates in its 2023 report.

• 2022

  Chief executive officer identified

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Vicki R. Deal-Williams was serving as ASHA's chief executive officer as of January 2022.

• 1978

  Current name adopted

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association adopted the name American Speech–Language–Hearing Association.

• 1947

  Hearing added to the association name

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the American Speech and Hearing Association, formally reflecting the inclusion of hearing in its professional scope.

• 1934

  American Speech Correction Association name adopted

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association adopted the name American Speech Correction Association.

• 1927

  First organizational renaming

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization changed its name to the American Society for the Study of Disorders of Speech.

• 1925

  Organization founded

  [1]American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The American Academy of Speech Correction was founded in the home of Lee Edward Travis in Iowa City, Iowa.

A national professional authority and member association for communication sciences and disorders, combining professional community-building with education standards, accreditation, advocacy, research communication, and practice resources.

• Membership association · 1925

  Professional membership

  ASHA provides a professional membership community for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Membership connects professionals with association information, practice resources, special interest groups, educational opportunities, and advocacy activity.

• Academic accreditation

  Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech–Language Pathology

  The Council for Academic Accreditation is ASHA's accreditation unit for graduate education in audiology and speech-language pathology. It establishes standards for programs preparing speech-language pathologists at the master's level and audiologists through clinical doctoral education.

• Professional development

  Professional education and practice resources

  ASHA offers professional information, educational resources, standards, publications, and continuing-development materials supporting work in communication sciences and disorders. These resources serve both clinical practitioners and researchers.

• Professional community

  Special Interest Groups

  Special Interest Groups provide member communities organized around particular topics within speech, language, hearing, audiology, and related communication-sciences disciplines. They support more focused professional exchange within the larger association.

1. 1American Speech–Language–Hearing Associationen.wikipedia.org