Speech Pathology is a profession that evaluates, diagnoses, and treats speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

In the United States, over 115,000 speech-language pathologists (SLP) are represented by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA: www.asha.org). This organization advocates evidence-based professional practice and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration with other professionals.

Speech-language pathologists:

• Provide assessment, intervention, and prevention services to individuals of all ages
• Collaborate with other professionals to offer a team approach to assessment and treatment
• Work in a variety of settings including schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities, government agencies, business & industry

International Speech Pathology Professional Associations

Australia
Speech Pathology Australia (www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/)

Canada
Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (CASLPA: www.caslpa.ca)

Ireland
Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT: www.iaslt.ie/)

Japan
Japanese Association of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists (www.jaslht.gr.jp)

United Kingdom
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT: www.rcslt.org)

For additional information on international speech pathology associations, go to: http://www.asha.org/members/international/intl_assoc.htm.

Students
The National Student Speech language Hearing Association (www.nsslha.org) is open to students who are enrolled in a university communication science and disorders program (in US or international institutions).

To Read

Collaborating to Support Individuals with Communication Impairments
(Koenig & Gerenser, 2006)

Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis: Opportunities for Collaboration
(Celeberti & Esch interview, 2006)