1925
American Academy of Speech Correction is founded with 25 members. Robert W. West served as the first president.
"We were a group of brash young people who wanted to start something."
- Robert West, 1966
ASHA's rich history began in 1925 at an informal meeting of the National Association of Teachers of Speech (NATS) in New York City. NATS was an organization made up of people working in the areas of rhetoric, debate, and theater. Some of its members were becoming increasingly interested in speech correction and wanted to establish an organization to promote "scientific, organized work in the field of speech correction." Accordingly, in December of that year, the American Academy of Speech Correction — which later became ASHA — was born.
1935
Code of Ethics established
The association's Code of Ethics reflects professional values and expectations for scientific and clinical practice.
1936
The organization publishes its first issue of its first journal, the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders.
From 1936 to 1997, the Association published the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders. In 1997, this publication became the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders in 1997.
1939
The organization appoints its first woman president, Sara Stinchfield Hawk.
"To hundreds of persons in the Association and outside of it, Sara Stinchfield Hawk represents what is speech correction in its finest and deepest sense."
- Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, March 1954
1946
American Speech & Hearing Foundation is founded.
The ASHFoundation, originally called the Stuttering Research Foundation,
was officially founded by Wendell Johnson as the Speech Correction Research Foundation. The foundation awarded its first
research grant of $75 to Dr. William Love.
1952
Certification is formalized.
Those who are certified hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a nationally recognized professional credential that represents a level of excellence in the profession of audiology (CCC-A) or speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP).
1958
First National Office opens.
The first National Office was located at 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, and consisted of a reception room, an executive secretary’s office, a small conference room, and a small office in the rear. The National Office was located at this address from 1958 to 1966. In March 1966, ASHA moved to a new building located outside Washington, DC, in Bethesda, MD.
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research publishes its first issue.
JSHLR publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles on the normal and disordered processes in speech, language, hearing, and related areas such as cognition, oral-motor function, and swallowing.
1959
Asha Magazine is launched.
The first issue of Asha Magazine was published in September 1959 with Dr. Kenneth Johnson, ASHA’s first Executive Secretary, as editor. Asha reported Association news and business to the membership on a monthly basis. It was the principal vehicle of communication among the Association’s officers, boards, committees, and members.
ASHA establishes American Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA).
ASHA established the American Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA) in 1959 to foster the purposes of the Association and ensure the provision of quality services to individuals with communication disorders. ABESPA designated the Educational Training Board (ETB), later named the Educational Standards Board (ESB), to evaluate programs that (a) offered master's degrees in audiology and in speech-language pathology and (b) voluntarily submitted applications for accreditation. Association Bylaws were amended to replace ABESPA with the Council on Professional Standards in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (Standards Council), effective January 1, 1980.
1964
Civil Rights Act is signed into law.
This law prohibits racial segregation in schools and prevents discrimination by programs and activities that receive federal funds, including hospitals and other health care facilities. This supports many of the people with whom audiologists and speech-language pathologists work.
1965
The Committee on Clinical Certification recommends elevating the degree requirement for certification to a Master’s degree, and ASHA’s Executive Council approves.
Accreditation program is founded.
The organization adopted academic program accreditation standards. The University of Kansas, Auburn University, Case Western Reserve, and the University of Oklahoma were the first schools to receive accreditation.
Medicare and Medicaid are signed into law.
The federal government established two health insurance programs— Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for people with limited income.
1968
The Black Caucus addresses the membership meeting at the Denver Convention.
ASHA President John V. Irwin did not give his presidential address at the ASHA Convention, instead deferring to Orlando Taylor and John Michel to give a presentation of the pros and cons of ASHA engaging in social action. They responded to the question, “What Should Be the Role of a Professional Association in a Conflict Society?”
“Asking 'Should we be involved in the social and political issues of our times?' is akin to asking 'Should we be human beings?'... An organization of 13,000 has a formidable economic power which can effect more social change than all members working individually."
- Orlando Taylor, Presidential Address at the 1968 Convention
1969
Office of Multicultural Affairs is established.
Funds were endorsed for the support of what would become the Office of Multicultural Affairs. It began as the Office of Urban and Ethnic Affairs (1969–1980), later became the Office of Minority Concerns (1980–1993), then was named the Office of Multicultural Affairs (1993–present).
Leaders of the Black Caucus author a Special Report.
The leaders of the Black Caucus — Orlando L. Taylor, R. Vernon Stroud, Charles G. Hurst Jr., Ernest J. Moore, and Ronald Williams — wrote and published a Special Report in the May 1969 issue of Asha Magazine. Following the great debate of 1968, they argued that racial tension could no longer be ignored. The Special Report established a set of proposals that — if undertaken, adopted, and accepted — could bring the Association in line with the social needs of the 1970s and beyond. Eleven years later, Orlando Taylor graded ASHA’s action toward the Black Caucus recommendations in the August 1980 issue of Asha Magazine.
First Legislative Council meeting.
ASHA's governance was shared by the Legislative Council (LC) and the Executive Board until 2008, when ASHA restructured to its current Board of Directors model. The 150 voting members of the Association sat on the counsel, representing members residing in each of the 50 states and internationally, including student representation.
1970
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools journal (as it is now known) publishes its first issue.
LSHSS publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles pertaining to the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology in the schools, focusing on children and adolescents.
Association bylaws are amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, or handicapping condition.
1971
ASHA hires staff to work on regulatory and legislative issues and to promote the interests of the professions.
This group later became ASHA’s Government and Public Policy team.
1972
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), as it is now known, is founded.
The National Student Speech and Hearing Association, later the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, was founded on July 1, 1972, through a merger of Sigma Alpha Eta, the national fraternity for students in speech and hearing, and the ASHA Student Journal. It remains the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD) recognized by ASHA.
The Master of Science (MS) degree is officially established as the standard educational credential for practice.
1975
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is signed into law.
This federal law makes available free, appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children, supports early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families, and awards competitive discretionary grants.
1976
ASHA endorses title of "speech-language pathologist."
ASHA endorsed the official title of "speech-language pathologist (SLP)" for those qualified individuals who diagnose, prognose, prescribe for, and/or remediate speech and language disorders.
1978
Organization is renamed "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)."
The Association underwent several subsequent name changes before becoming ASHA.
1925–1927: American Academy of Speech Correction
1927–1934: American Society for the Study of Disorders of Speech
1934–1947: American Speech Correction Association
1947–1978: American Speech and Hearing Association
1978–present: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
1979
Continuing Education (CE) program is founded.
The CE program's launch included approval of providers, the creation of ASHA CEUs, and establishment of the CE Registry.
Statements are added to the Code of Ethics prohibiting discrimination.
Per Legislative Council 43-70: Statements were added to the Code of Ethics, Part 4 of Section C: “He must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or sex in his professional relationships with his colleagues and clients. Per Legislative Council 1-79: Statements were added as follows: "ASHA recognizes discrimination on the basis of 'race, national origin, religion, age, sex, or handicapping condition' to be inconsistent with its goals, purposes, and policies, and with the professional and ethical responsibilities of its members, boards, committees, and officers."
1983
Legislative Council LC 56-71 establishes Committee on the Status of Racial Minorities, which later became the Multicultural Issues Board.
The committee's charge was approved (1983) and revised (1986). LC 25-88 adopted a new governance structure which dissolved the many ad hoc and standing committees, including the Committee on Cultural-Linguistic Differences and Disorders the Status of Racial Minorities (formerly known as Committee on Communication Behavior and Problems in Urban Populations) and established the Multicultural Issues Board (1988).
1986
ASHA-PAC is created.
ASHA-PAC is the political action committee for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA-PAC provides financial support to candidate committees for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, both of whom recognize the importance of audiology and speech-language pathology services and demonstrate concern for the rights of all citizens to receive these services.
1987
First Annie Glenn Award is given to actor James Earl Jones.
Annie Glenn became an inspiration to and an advocate for people with communication disorders when she began speaking publicly after receiving life-changing treatment for stuttering. Since 1987, ASHA has annually awarded The Annie Glenn Award to those who publicly champion communication-related matters in the same spirit as Annie Glenn. Actor James Earl Jones received the first Annie Award for using his public platform to share his experience with stuttering, contributing to increased awareness on behalf of the 79 million people worldwide who stutter.
1988
ASHA appoints first African American President Sandra C. Holley.
Sandra C. Holley was the first African American person to serve as president of ASHA. Her decades of determined leadership advancing the CSD professions reflected her dedication to the tripartite professional mission of research, teaching, and clinical service.
"My agenda [as president] was marketing, to increase the visibility of the professional discipline... Most people didn't know what a speech-language pathologist was, or an audiologist. But when we said, 'Those are the people that provide services to hearing impaired persons, or persons who've had a stroke, or who've had a laryngectomy—' 'Oh, we know somebody who had a stroke,' they would say. 'Your people did a great job.' So the perception that the public had of us was a very positive one. They just didn't know who we were."
– Sandra C. Holley, interviewed in 1997
1989
National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (NAHSA) is established.
The National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (NAHSA) continues to operate today, educating the public about communication health.
Kawana Award is established.
The Alfred K. Kawana Award for Lifetime Achievement in Publications is reserved for outstanding researchers/scholars who have a sustained history of exemplary publications in ASHA journals. Over a period of at least 10 years, recipients shall have authored ASHA journal articles that are meritorious in terms of educational, scientific, or clinical value, and thus contributed significantly to the discipline. This award is named in memory of the late Alfred K. Kawana (pictured), former director of ASHA publications.
Special Interest Groups (originally called Special Interest Divisions) are created.
ASHA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are communities centered around areas of professional practice within the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. They were originally called Special Interest Divisions.
1990
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is signed into law.
This federal law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services unless an undue burden or a fundamental change in the nature of the goods, services, or facilities would result.
1991
American Journal of Audiology: A Journal of Clinical Practice is launched.
AJA publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles on clinical audiology methods and issues. It serves as a national and international outlet for (a) discussion regarding audiology-related issues and ideas and (b) clinical research on screening, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of hearing and balance disorders.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology: A Journal of Clinical Practice is launched.
AJSLP publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles on all aspects of clinical practice in speech-language pathology. It is an international outlet for clinical research on screening, detection, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of communication and swallowing disorders.
1995
National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) is launched.
The National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) is a voluntary data collection registry that illustrates the value of audiology and speech-language pathology services and enables clinicians to improve the quality of those services.
1996
ASHA website is launched.
The association launches asha.org.
The ASHA Leader is launched.
The ASHA Leader was described in its inaugural issue as a twice-monthly newspaper of important information to the professions offered in a concise and easy-to-read format. Featured stories and employment ads were transferred from Asha Magazine to The ASHA Leader. Asha Magazine was chosen for discontinuation at the end of 1999 after 40 years of publication, and The ASHA Leader became the Association’s official trade journal.
1999
Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) is launched.
The MSLP takes place each ASHA Convention. The event's purpose is to provide a forum for students who have been historically underrepresented in CSD to come together to engage in a variety of leadership and team-building activities—culminating in a reviewed team presentation that addresses an issue relevant to CSD. Over the years, the program’s application eligibility criteria expanded from undergraduate seniors and master's students to include PhD students (2005), AuD students (2006), and SLPD students (2023). More than 750 people are alumni of the MSLP.
2004
Audiology licensure becomes necessary to practice in all 50 states.
Michigan was the final state to pass legislation requiring licensure for audiologists to practice.
Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) Mentoring Program is launched.
Inspired by the Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP), the Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) Mentoring Program launched in 2004, with the goal of matching CSD students who are underrepresented in the discipline to seasoned CSD professionals. The program initially launched with 69 participants, mentors, and mentees. By 2024, there were 285 mentoring pairs with nearly 600 participants. On average, S.T.E.P. supports approximately 300 mentoring pairs each year and has served as a catalyst for the development of additional mentoring programs at ASHA.
2007
AuD degree is adopted for the practice of audiology.
ASHA builds and opens new headquarters in Rockville, MD.
ASHA constructed a new, environmentally friendly National Office in Rockville, MD, to serve as the Association's headquarters. The National Office hosts meetings and gatherings of professionals and students as well as staff offices. ASHA is the first nonprofit association to hold a Gold LEED building environmental certification in Maryland history.
ASHA International Issues Board is established
The International Issues Board (IIB) was established to develop, monitor, and recommend Association policies related to international issues, and facilitate ASHA's strategic planning and engagement with speech, language, and hearing organizations worldwide.” Dr. Gloria Weddington was IIB’s first Chair.
2008
ASHA launches its first social media channels.
The Association created accounts on Facebook and Twitter to share information and interact with members.
Board of Directors becomes governing body of ASHA.
ASHA adopted a new unicameral governance model, changing ASHA governance to a Board of Directors model. “The new model will allow audiologists and speech-language pathologists to have their professional needs addressed and their perspectives heard,” 2007 ASHA President Noma Anderson said at the time. “One of the most important benefits to members will be their direct lines of communication with the decision-makers on the Board of Directors.”
2010
The ASHA Leader establishes online presence, and the ASHA Journals transition to the online version being the journal of record.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) is signed into law.
The passage of this federal legislation expanded health insurance coverage and reformed the health insurance market in the United States. Provisions included protecting patients against discrimination based on gender or pre-exisiting conditions, removing lifetime or annual limits on coverage for the essentials, providing premium tax credits, requiring employers to have certain responsibilities regarding health care coverage, and some tax provisions that impact individuals, businesses, insurers, etc. ASHA signed a letter along with other organizations supporting the ACA.
Code of Ethics is revised to prohibit discrimination on the basis of “gender identity and gender expression.”
2011
ASHA Community goes live.
The ASHA Community is a place for members to share information and resources, ask for help, discuss problems and lessons learned, and engage with colleagues.
ASHA launches its Media Champion award program.
The annual awards are given to media outlets, ASHA members, and others for outstanding coverage and outreach about communication disorders and the work of audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
2012
Speech-language pathology licensure becomes necessary to practice in all 50 states.
Colorado was the final state to pass legislation requiring licensure for speech-language pathologists.
NSSLHA and ASHA build closer ties.
NSSLHA and ASHA formalize their partnership, joining forces to support CSD students.
Doctoral degree is required for certification in audiology (CCC-A).
2013
Practice Portal and ASHAWire are launched.
The Practice Portal transformed how ASHA provides clinical resources and information to members, making information accessible in an online format to facilitate clinical decision making and increase practice efficiency for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and assistants. Practice Portal pages are regularly updated with new information. ASHAWire is the Association's online publications hub, a dynamic publishing platform hosting content that includes the four ASHA Journals, Perspectives (the Association's scholarly review journal), topic collections, special collections, and more.
ASHA launches the Identify the Signs campaign.
The Identify the Signs campaign educates the public about the warning signs of communication disorders.
ASHA collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) kicks off.
PAHO is the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO). ASHA participating members are providing technical assistance/capacity building on communication disorders in selected countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
2014
International Communication Project (ICP) is launched.
The ICP is a collaboration among six national audiology and speech-language pathology professional bodies. Its mission is to raise international awareness of communication disorders and of the speech and language therapists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists, who assess and treat them.
2018
U.S. Astronaut Drew Feustel flies a replica of ASHA’s Annie Award to the International Space Station.
Feustel bringing the Annie Award replica to space was a celebration of the importance of communication and the work of audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
2019
Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups publishes its first issue.
Perspectives is the online, peer-reviewed journal of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Replacing the individual Perspectives titles previously published for each SIG, it features articles from all 20 SIGs and enables readers to earn ASHA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for self-study.
2020
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) goes into effect.
The ASLP-IC officially went into effect on March 31, 2020, after Nebraska was the 10th state to adopt the compact.
ASHA launches the Assistants Certification Program.
The ASHA Assistants Certification Program was launched to respond to the growing need for audiology and speech-language pathology assistants. Becoming certified as an assistant demonstrates commitment to the profession, helps assistants stay current in their practice, and may enhance job prospects. Through continuing education required for certification, assistants stay engaged with the profession.
2022
ASHA collaborates with the Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC.
ASHA collaborated with the Planet Word Museum (which opened its doors in October 2020) to produce a museum exhibit about causes of word-finding difficulties and aphasia. Through a touch- and voice-activated “beacon,” museum visitors learn how and why word-finding challenges occur.
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act of 2022 is signed into law.
This federal law authorized the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to (a) fund state-based programs that facilitate screening (the initial test of infants for hearing loss, called Early Hearing Detection and Intervention [EHDI]); (b) ensure timely audiological diagnostic evaluations (to confirm hearing loss); and (c) connect families with crucial early intervention services specifically designed to meet the unique language and communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing newborns, infants, and young children.
2023
ASHA changes the name of its longstanding awareness month, formerly known as Better Hearing and Speech Month, to National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, recognized each May, raises awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment. The name change in 2023 was the first name change in more than 50 years.
2025
As we celebrate our past, we’re inspired by the possibilities ahead. Honoring 100 years of impact — and envisioning the next century of innovation, inclusion, and progress.