The Multifaceted Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in the USA

Abstract

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is a professional association that supports professionals that provide services across a broad range of communication sciences and disorders including speech-language pathologists, audiologists, speech, language and hearing scientists and support personnel including speech-language pathology assistants and audiology assistants. ASHA’s key areas of focus for the future of speech-language pathology includes educating members and faculty to prepare graduate students for practice in these changed arenas. The purpose of the article is to show how ASHA is actively involved globally and locally in establishing standards and providing services in several domains including prevention and wellness, screening, assessment, treatment, collaboration with other professionals, counselling and modalities, technology and instrumentation as well as population and systems.