By Greg Weimann
2004: Changes
The past year marked the beginning of many changes for the Association. The Association embarked on three new focused initiatives, launched three new e-newsletters, and selected a new Executive Director, Arlene Pietranton. As you will see, 2004 also was a year in which the Association had many wonderful accomplishments to help with the many changes that are having an impact on the professions and the way you practice. Please read on for some of the highlights of the past year and the products created by your Association for you in 2004.
ASHA Focused Initiatives: 2004
A complete report on all of the accomplishments for each focused initiative in 2004 is available.
Some of the major accomplishments for each these initiatives included the following:
Health Care Reimbursement
- Developed an instructional module on how to advocate/negotiate for private health plan coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services.
- Provided continued support for the State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) network by developing Web-based instructional modules related to negotiating, legislative advocacy, medical necessity, and actuarial data.
- Contacted and/or met with representatives of Blue Cross-Blue Shield (BCBS) plans in Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to advocate for more comprehensive coverage of audiology and speech-language pathology services.
- Created a new brochure, Making Sense of Your Health Insurance Plan.
Learn more about the 2004 ASHA focused initiative on health care reimbursement
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Doctoral Shortage
- Developed information related to promoting careers as a PhD-level teacher and/or researcher in higher education and research for use on ASHA's Web site and in discipline/profession recruitment materials, and provided information about federal, state, and private funding sources to support students pursuing the PhD degree and careers in higher education.
- Developed and funded the Students Preparing for Academic & Research Careers (SPARC) Award and The Advancing Academic-Research Careers (AARC) Award programs to provide financial incentives to promote PhD career development for CSD undergraduate/graduate students through enhanced educational mentorship and for new faculty who are in the beginning stages of their academic/research careers for the purpose of promoting retention in higher education. Seventeen student/mentor pairs receceive SPARC awards and 13 faculty members received AARC awards.
- Expanded ASHA's efforts to showcase student research and academic success by awarding travel funds for 10 Student Research Travel Awards for presentations at the ASHA Convention, 10 travel awards for presentations at Lessons for Success conference, 7 Minority Student Travel Awards to showcase research at the annual Research Symposium, and 7 travel stipends awarded to the 2004 ASHF's New Century Scholars for travel to a 2005 research conference.
- Developed Access Academics & Research , a customized bimonthly electronic newsletter to disseminate topic-specific information and timely news and announcements to facutly, researchers, and PhD students.
- Initiated efforts to inform Congress and the U.S. Department of Education about the doctoral shortage in communication sciences and disorders higher education programs and the negative impact this shortage will have on the education of audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
Learn more about the 2004 ASHA focused initiative on the doctoral shortage
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Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations
Learn more about the 2004 ASHA focused initiative on culturally and linguistically diverse populations
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School Programs and Services
- Continued work of the State Education Action Team (SEAT) with state and local education agencies in obtaining salary supplements and on caseload/workload issues.
- Developed a multimedia Web-based advocacy guide allowing members to download valuable resources including strategies to achieve a salary supplement or other benefits, salary and benefit options, recruitment and retention resources, sample proposals, and contract language. Eleven speech-language pathologists across the nation shared their personal success stories in audiovisual presentions.
- Developed and disseminated the State Advocacy Guide for use by members in advocating for legislation and regulation policy changes at the state level.
- Developed a Workload Web-page that includes references to documents and resources on workload and related advocacy resources, articles from The ASHA Leader on workload activities, a list of districts working to implement workload, and related CE programs.
- Developed an FAQ on how to be a successful advocate for posting on the ASHA Web-site.
Learn more about ASHA's School Programs and Services focused initiative
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Audiology
- Access Audiology is in its third year, with more than 36,000 subscribers. In 2004, six issues were developed. This ASHA member benefit is dedicated to the specific needs of audiologists and all of the 16 issues of Access Audiology developed during the past 3 years are archived on the above-mentioned site. To subscribe, e-mail your name and membership number to AccessAudiology@asha.org.
- To raise awareness among consumers and physicians about the profession of audiology, ASHA exhibited at conferences of Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH), the Alexander Graham Bell Association, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and the American Academcy of Pediatrics (AAP).
- Conducted the highly successful ASHA conference, Audiology 2004: Pediatric Audiology and Genetics. The event garnered some of the highest participant ratings of any ASHA conference: attendees rated their overall satisfaction at more than 4.6 on a 5-point scale.
- At its Fall 2004 meeting, the Council for Clinical Specialty Recognition approved a Stage I application submitted by Special Interest Division 9, Hearing and Hearing Disorders in Childhood, to establish a Specialty Recognition in Pediatric Audiology. Establishing a Specialty Recognition entails a two-stage application process. In filing its letter of intent, Special Interest Division 9 cited a need for audiologists with specialized skills to work with young pediatric patients, as well as the need for consumers to be able to identify those audiologists who have the skill set to work with this population.
- Congressional leaders supported an ASHA-led request for a comprehensive study of hearing benefits and a report back to Congress by October 2005 that is being conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in an effort to provide broader coverage of hearing services and devices for federal employees and their families under the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHPB).
- ASHA worked with audiology supporters in Congress and other audiology organizations to advance three bills that would permit direct access to audiologists, as well as expand the payment and coverage of diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology services through the Medicare program. The Hearing Health Accessibility Act, the Medicare Audiologic Rehabilitation Act, and the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act were originally introduced in the 108th Congress. Since they did not pass, these bills are being reintroduced in the 109th Congress.
- This past year both the Medicare and Medicaid programs reaffirmed their recognition and reliance on the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) for qualifying audiologists. To qualify for Medicaid payment, state licensure standards for audiologists now need to meet or exceed the CCC-A or current Medicare requirements.
- Three new reimbursement codes for audiologists were approved for use in the diagnostic assessment of central auditory processing and tinnitus, totaling 17 new codes for ASHA member use since 2001. While Medicare reimbursement for audiology services increased on average by 1.5%, outpatient hospital payments for cochlear implantation increased by 16% and diagnostic analysis and programming for cochlear implants rose by more than 30%.
- The four special interest divisions focusing exclusively on audiology issues came together to offer continuing education opportunities for their affiliates. As part of an expanded publication program, these divisions now offer their newsletters for self-study by affiliates to earn ASHA CEUs at no additional cost. This initiative grows out of a restructuring of the audiology special interest divisions (Division 6, Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnostics; Division 7, Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation; Division 8, Hearing Conservation and Occupational Audiology; and Division 9, Hearing and Hearing Disorders in Childhood). The result was the formation of the Audiology Coordinating Committee (ACC), which was approved by the Board of Division Coordinators in April 2004.
Learn more about ASHA's audiology activities
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Speech-Language Pathology
- ASHA continued its campaign for IDEA funding. On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed in to law the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (P.L.108-446). An extensive effort was made to ensure that ASHA members provided input into the Association's priorities for the IDEA reauthorization. These key issues, including paperwork reduction, maintaining qualified providers, model forms, and enhanced transition into and from Part C programs, were communicated to Congress during the 3-year reauthorization process. ASHA was pleased with such outcomes as paperwork reduction, model forms, and improvements in the IEP process, but was disappointed in Congress' action on personnel qualifications. ASHA has funded a focused initiative on personnel issues and qualifications for 2005 to examine issues of personnel supply/demand and to support states in maintaining appropriate personnel standards.
- ASHA Health Care 2004, Dysphagia in Children and Adults, took place February 14–15, 2004, in Orlando, Florida. More than 200 speech-language pathologists participated in the program, which featured separate two-day tracks on fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), adult dysphagia, and pediatric dysphagia.
- Conducted the annual Schools Conference, in Baltimore, MD, which was attended by 740 school-based clinicians attended. The conference featured a variety of presentations from key staff from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on, among other topics, the latest information about the evolving regulations from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Speech-language pathologists who are members of ASHA's NCLB advisory group also provided participants with strategies for those in school-based practices.
Learn more about these new ASHA speech-language pathology new documents and activities
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Science and Research
- Completed the 2004 Schools Survey. This survey gathered information about school-based service delivery and practice trends, updating information from ASHA's 1995 and 2000 Schools Surveys. Conducted 2004 Audiology Survey (reports available in spring 2005).
- Initiated a series of survey briefs—short, easy-to-read compilations of Association and external trend data. Briefs created include Trends in Computer Use Among ASHA Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists 1982–2003 and Career Satisfaction and Job Satisfaction Among ASHA Constituents.
- Held the "Women in Science" special session at the ASHA Annual Convention (the first in a series of sessions intended to promote interest in pursuing a PhD and an academic and research position in the CSD field).
- Hosted the "Lessons for Success" Conference, which provided new and mid-level investigators with essential information on grant writing, the publication process, and research ethics.
- Cosponsored a workshop with the Deafness Research Foundation for junior faculty in CSD fields that focused on grant writing to fund clinical research (the second in a series of annual workshops targeting beginning investigators).
- Hosted the 14th Annual Research Symposium, which provided investigators at all levels with cutting-edge information on a variety of social, economic, and environmental influences on hearing, language, and speech.
- Conducted an in-depth examination of research integrity issues in the CSD discipline by fielding a number of substantial surveys on this topic.
Learn more about data, research, and grant information
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Certification
- The Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) has signed the Quadrilateral Mutual Recognition Agreement. This agreement was made between ASHA, the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), the Royal College of Speech Therapists (Great Britain), and Speech Pathology of Australia Limited. Along with the agreement, which becomes effective January 1, 2005, for individuals certified in speech-language pathology, the National Office has been developing forms for applicants from one of the other signatory associations to use in applying for ASHA certification.
- The CFCC has voted to renew its bilateral agreement with CASLPA for mutual recognition for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The agreement was signed by all parties at the 2004 meeting of Speech Pathology Australia in Brisbane, Australia.
Learn more about ASHA's certification and membership efforts
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Continuing Education (CE)
- CE celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2004. Twenty-five 1-year CE Registry subscriptions were raffled off to thank members for their patronage. Read about CE's past, present, and future and see which of your colleagues won the CE Registry subscriptions.
- ASHA members registered for Learn & Earn programs including journal study groups, preparing and providing instruction, earning academic credit, publishing articles in peer-reviewed publications, and learning related to clinical fellow supervision. Find out more about this new CE opportunity that allows you to earn ASHA CEUs for participating in professional learning experiences geared to fit your schedule and your professional needs. Go to and click on "Learning Your Way".
- CE Registry subscribers ordered their transcripts through a new ASHA Web service. This electronic option has proven to be popular and convenient. Order your CE Registry transcript online.
- Finding a distance learning course is now easier than ever. Members may now search CourSearch, an online course database, by the key words "distance education" to locate courses that are flexible and convenient.
- ASHA-approved CE Providers took advantage of a new Web resource filled with information on developing, implementing, and evaluating courses, as well as the forms and guidance needed to register and report on courses offered for ASHA CEUs. Approved CE Providers may access this site.
Learn more about the CE program and services
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Government Relations and Public Policy
- This past year both the Medicare and Medicaid programs reaffirmed their recognition and reliance on the CCC's for qualifying audiologists and speech-language pathologists. New federal regulations require that speech-language pathology services in physician offices must be provided by an SLP-CCC qualified individual or by a clinical fellow. Additionally, to qualify for Medicaid payment, state licensure standards for audiologists now need to meet or exceed the CCC-A or current Medicare requirements (i.e., the 1993 CCC-A standards).
- ASHA also worked with congressional leaders to request a comprehensive study of hearing benefits and report back to Congress by October 2005 that will be conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in an effort to provide broader coverage of hearing services and devices for federal employees and their families under the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHPB).
Learn more about ASHA's Government Relations and Public Policy, the Association's advocacy activities, and general federal issues
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Office of Multicultural Affairs
- Updated the Bilingual Directory database.
- Cosponsored a workshop with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development entitled Childhood Bilingualism: Current Status and Future Directions.
- Created a Resource CD-ROM with copies of documents and links to ASHA's Web site for accessing resources available from the ASHA Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Learn more about ASHA's Office of Multicultural Affairs and the numerous resoures that are available
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Publications
- By the end of 2004, all four ASHA journals (American Journal of Audiology; American Journal of Speech-Language-Pathology; Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research; and Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools) were available in full-text searchable format on the ASHA Web site as an ASHA member benefit. The archive extends from the current issues back through 1980. There is an additional free service: e-mail alerts of new content.
Learn more about ASHA's publications
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Public Relations
- To raise awareness of the professions, ASHA exhibited at eight professional and trade association conventions, reaching more than 200,000 consumers, physicians, health plan administrators, school board members, educators, scientists, and administrators. Learn about other ways ASHA markets and promotes the professions, in the Marketing Your Service section of the ASHA Web site.
- To raise awareness about communication disorders to Prevention magazine's 2.4 million readers, ASHA placed a one-page advertorial on consumer perceptions and perspectives about speech, language, and hearing disorders. This advertorial appeared in the January 5, 2005, issue of Prevention magazine.
- To gather data on consumer perceptions about speech, language, and hearing disorders and the professionals who treat them, ASHA conducted a telephone survey of 1,000 consumers nationwide. The survey measured consumers' knowledge about speech, language, and hearing disorders, how they seek help for such disorders, and from whom they receive help. From the findings obtained from the telephone survey and from the Prevention magazine project, ASHA will be analyzing and evaluating the combined research results to build future education and awareness campaigns, set the direction for media relations activities, and create public service advertising (PSA) campaigns for the Association. These projects were the first consumer research efforts undertaken by ASHA in more than 20 years.
- Public relations staff worked with reporters to raise awareness about communication disorders and gain visibility for the professions. The following are highlights:
- Noise and hearing loss. WGN-TV in Chicago addressed the topic of hearing loss and noise on the show "Health Corner." The show aired twice during 2004 and was also carried on the WGN Superstation, which has a viewership of 40 million. ASHA's director of audiology practice, who was interviewed on the air, provided helpful information to viewers on symptoms of hearing loss, how noise can damage hearing, how to protect hearing when in noisy environments, and the work of audiologists in preserving hearing health. ASHA's director of audiology practice in health care was a resource for and quoted in a Newhouse News Service article on noise-induced hearing loss. The article appeared in numerous newspapers across the country. ASHA's director of audiology practice in health care was also interviewed and quoted in an article on the dangers of using a loud hair dryer. ASHA provided practical advice to parents on protecting their children from hearing loss due to exposure to noisy toys for an article in The Washington Post. The article also appeared in The Buffalo News and The Chicago Tribune.
- Speech, language, and hearing in children. Public relations staff worked with Baby Talk magazine on a cover story on language development. Readers learned the general milestones in speech and language development in children. ASHA's director of clinical services in speech-language pathology was quoted throughout the article, excerpts from ASHA's brochure, How Does Your Child Hear and Talk? were included, and ASHA's Web site and 800 number were listed as resources. ASHA was also a resource for an article on late-talking children that appeared in The New York Times. ASHA provided information to HealthReuters newswire service, which featured an article on the impact of minimal hearing loss on academic performance, a study conducted by an audiology member and presented during ASHA's convention.
- Hearing loss in middle-aged Americans. Public Relations staff worked with the author of the MidLife column at The Washington Post on an article that explained the symptoms, causes, and challenges of tinnitus. ASHA's director of audiology practice in industry and private practice was a resource for the author and quoted in the article. Readers were also directed to ASHA's Web site for more information. ASHA provided information and advice on dealing with hearing loss among baby-boomers for The Wall Street Journal. Readers were directed to ASHA's Web site and 800 number.
- The work of audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Staff worked with The Chicago Tribune on an article highlighting a career in speech-language pathology. Appearing in the Sunday edition, the article informed readers on the work of speech-language pathologists, the requirements for education and training, and how to contact ASHA for more information. Readers of The Miami Herald learned about speech, language, and hearing disorders, as well as the services provided by audiologists and speech-language pathologists, in two separate articles. Readers were directed to ASHA for more information.
Members: Learn more about ASHA's media outreach efforts
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Sponsorships/Cosponsorships
In 2004, the Executive Board approved sponsorship/cosponsorship of the following events:
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development workshop entitled Childhood Bilingualism: Current Status and Future Directions.
- Consensus Conference on Effective Interventions for Infants and Young Children With Hearing Loss.
- Conference on the Education of Audiologists: A Collaborative Approach.
- Deafness Research Foundation's World Council on Hearing Health: Advanced Clinical Research Workshop.
- International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise Congress, 2008.
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National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
- Added two new ASHA-certified faculty members to the NSSLHA Executive Council: Dr. Carlin F. Hageman, professor, University of Northern Iowa, as the executive director; and Dr. Dale Metz, professor, SUNY Geneseo, as editor of Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders (CICSD).
- Piloted the National Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) Career Awareness Day at 10 NSSLHA chapters and informed more than 500 students about academic and professional career opportunities in the professions.
- Authored the Communication Sciences Student Survival Guide published by Delmar Thomson Learning.
- Implemented a new marketing campaign that included updating membership recruitment materials and the NSSLHA newsletter.
Learn more about NSSLHA's national programs and activities at http://www.nsslha.org
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American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
- Raised $1,942,498 since the launch of the $2 million Dreams and Possibilities Campaign goal to fund high priority research and doctoral scholarship initiatives.
- Raised more than $300,000 for the Foundation's annual program from individuals, corporations, service organizations, and special event fundraisers that included an annual charity golf benefit and convention art raffle.
- Presented awards to 44 individuals in support of ground-breaking research investigations, research travel stipends, doctoral and master's education, and clinical achievement. Recipients were selected from more than 400 applicants.
- Disbursed approximately $150,000 to fund the Foundation's current project, grant, scholarship, and research partnership awards.
- Funded the second year of the New Century Scholars Program to grant seven $10,000 grants for support of teacher-investigator careers in 2004.
- Honored 46 representatives from the corporate community who supported Foundation philanthropy in 2004.
- Involved more than 120 volunteers to assist Foundation trustees and staff with charitable fund raising and annual award review and selection processes.
Learn how to help strengthen the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation or to find out about its activities at http://www.ashfoundation.org.
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ASHA Resources Created in 2004
ASHA continually strives to provide the membership with the most comprehensive professional products and services. In this vein, ASHA's staff, elected officials, and volunteers created more than 100 new resources last year for the membership to access—the most in the industry. Just look at what we accomplished for you in 2004. (Note that some of the resources listed below may have a cost associated with them.)
Audiology Practice Policy Documents
Better Hearing and Speech Month
- Sample press releases, fact sheets, resolutions, activity book, screen saver, public service announcements, and proclamations
- Giveaway items to promote BHSM
Consultation Packets, Fact Sheets, and Resource Packets
E-mail Newsletters and Announcements
- Access Schools
- Access Audiology
- Access Academics & Research
- Access SLP Health Care
Get subscription information for these free resources
Ethic Statements
Professional Development Self-Study Products for ASHA CEUs
Journal Self-Studies
- Acquired Apraxia of Speech: Evidence-Based Intervention
- Aphasia: The Role of Social Participation in Intervention
- Aphasia: Treatment for Lexical and Sentence Production Skills
- CAPD, Cochlear Implants, and Other Audiology Issues in Schools
- Childhood Voice Disorders
- Emergent Literacy Environments of Young Children At-Risk for Literacy Learning Difficulties
- Hearing Aid Outcomes in Older Adults
- Implementation Guide: A Workload Approach for Establishing Speech-Language Caseload Standards in the Schools
- Treatment of Dysarthria: Evidence-Based Practice
- What Child Language Research May Contribute to the Understanding and Treatment of Stuttering
Video Self-Studies
- Assessment of Bilingual Learners: Language Difference or Disorder
- Auditory-Oral Intervention Strategies for Children With Cochlear Implants
- Candidacy and Habilitation of Children With Cochlear Implants
- Clinical and Instrumental Evaluation of Voice Disorders (Master Clinician Series)
- The Dysphagia Evaluation: Consultation to Instrumental Exam (Master Clinician Series)
- Management of Dysarthria in Degenerative Neurologic Disease: Key Quality Indicators
CD-ROM Self-Study
- Radiographic Interpretation of Swallowing Disorders
Audio Self-Study
- A Workload Approach to Caseload in the Schools
- Amplification and Dead Regions in the Cochlea
- Children With Severe Developmental Speech Impairment
- Complex Auditory Pathology Cases: A Collaborative Model
- Continuum of Care for Aphasia: Long-Term Management Phase
- Curriculum-Based Language Intervention With Adolescents
- HIPAA: Privacy Regulations
Telephone Seminars
- Assistive Technology Needs Assessment
- Ethical Issues and Employer Demands
- Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Stuttering
- Financial Analysis and Planning for Audiologists
- Funding for AAC Devices
- Hair Cell Regeneration in the Inner Ear
- No Child Left Behind: What It Means for SLPs
- Standardizing Dysphagia Diets: The National Dysphagia Diet, and Other Considerations
- Therapy Services in the Classroom: Creating Student Success
- Verification of Hearing Aid Performance
- Working With Neurologically Impaired Bilingual Adults
Patient Education Brochures
Science and Research Resource Documents
Reports include a listing of supplemental sources of information on issues such as the following:
- Caseload Characteristics (PDF Format)
- Salaries (PDF Format)
- Survey Methodology, Respondent Demographics, and Glossary (PDF Format)
- Workforce (PDF Format)
- Survey Briefs
Speech-Language Pathology Practice Policy Resources
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