Quick Facts
About ASHA
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 223,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
Members: 223,000
President: Robert M. Augustine
Chief Executive Officer: Vicki R. Deal-Williams
Headquarters: Rockville, Maryland
Founded: 1925
Designations: Honors, Fellow
Publications:
- The ASHA Leader
- American Journal of Audiology
- American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
- Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
- Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
Annual Convention: ASHA Convention
Speech & Language Disorders
Speech disorders occur when a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with their voice. Language disorders occur when a person has trouble understanding others (receptive language) or sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings completely (expressive language).
Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems.
Quick Facts:
- 5% to 10% of Americans may have communication disorders, costing the U.S. approximately $154–186 billion annually. (source)
- By the first grade, roughly 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders. (source)
- 3 million+ Americans stutter. (source)
- Nearly 7% of Americans have some form of language impairment. (source)
- Approximately 1 million Americans suffer from aphasia. (source)
Hearing Loss & Disorders
Hearing loss is determined by three categories:
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages.
Quick Facts:
- Approximately 37.5 million Americans report having some trouble hearing. (source)
- According to an AARP/ASHA 2011 poll of AARP members, 47% of respondents reported having untreated hearing loss. (source)
- 1 in 5 Americans have hearing loss in at least 1 ear. (source)
- Approximately 26 million Americans, ages 20–69, have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises. (source)
- The Centers for Disease Control estimate the lifetime costs for all people with hearing loss born in the year 2000 will total $2.1 billion. Most of these costs will come from lost wages due to inability or limited ability to work. (source)
