The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a national organization for audiologists and speech-language pathologists, is a large and complex organization.
Associations
ASHA is a huge organization (almost 100,000 members) with state associations).
Plus, within ASHA, there are multicultural professional speech-language pathologist (slp) organizations. There is an organization for each ethnicity, and even one for gay and lesbian slp professionals. Speech-language-pathology and audiology students have their own organization.
Also, anyone can join ASHA's Special Interest Divisions. Topics include language learning and education, hearing and hearing disorders, and hearing and hearing disorders in childhood.
Activities
ASHA is very active politically. ASHA has fought for more speech language services, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and early hearing loss detection, to name a few.
Consumer Information and Products
For consumers, ASHA provides several brochures. Topics include communication disorders, buying hearing aids, tinnitus, noise, otitis media, and assistive listening devices.
Publications
ASHA publishes a well-known journal called The ASHA Leader. Another ASHA publication is the American Journal of Audiology. Additional ASHA publications are the American Journal of Speech-Language-Pathology, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, and Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.
Conventions
ASHA holds an annual convention.
Careers
If you are an audiologist or speech language pathologist looking for a job, you can check out the online career center ads. There is a searchable database of open positions and candidates can apply online. Employers can submit new jobs directly.
