(Boston, MA - November 12, 2007) Howard C. Shane, PhD, Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement (CCE) at Children's Hospital, Boston, associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, will receive the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) Honors of the Association award during the 2007 Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), November 15-17 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Honors of the Association recognizes distinguished contribution to the field of speech, language, and hearing and is the highest honor the Association can give. Honored individuals have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication science and disorders, research, administration, or service to state or national organizations.
Dr. Shane is a pioneer in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) who has developed equipment, clinical tools, symbol sets, speech-generating devices, an AAC-based telephone, and many software programs that enhance communication ability for individuals with severe communication impairments.
Dr. Shane is the supervisor of more than 50 SLPs and audiologists while maintaining a successful clinical practice and an active research, development, and teaching career. He is also the founder of Children's Hospital, Boston's Autism Language Program, renowned for its cutting-edge treatment and research on autism spectrum disorders. Under his direction, the CEE offers one of the most complete and comprehensive communication evaluation and treatment programs in the country for individuals with severe speech, language, and other developmental and acquired disabilities.
Dr. Shane's research promotes procedures and measures that advance the study and practice of communication interventions. He is a principal investigator in the federal Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Communication Enhancement, and conducts RERC-supported research and development on technology for persons on the autism spectrum.
The annual ASHA convention is the most comprehensive development conference for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists. It features more than 1,500 educational sessions that highlight the latest developments in research and clinical practices for professionals who provide services in schools, hospitals, health care centers, rehabilitation clinics, and other practice settings.
Nearly 300 exhibitors, including hearing aid manufacturers and other companies in the speech and hearing industries, will showcase innovative products and services in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center's exhibit hall. Technology presentations on products, such as computer software programs as well as alternative and augmentative communication and assistive listening devices were also featured.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
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