About Special Interest Group 19, Speech Science

Vision

SIG 19's vision is to establish itself as the primary community for the exchange of knowledge and educational information about speech science and related technological advances.

In order to achieve the vision, the following strategic goals have been identified:

  • Strategic Goal 1: Build an active community within ASHA for members with an interest in speech science and related technology.
  • Strategic Goal 2: Establish a pedagogical network to improve educational experiences for students in speech science.
  • Strategic Goal 3: Increase the number of individuals pursuing a career in speech science.
  • Strategic Goal 4: Communicate and translate fundamental speech research and emerging technologies to the practitioner

Mission

The mission of SIG 19 is to provide education and leadership to affiliates, students, associates, and other members of ASHA in the area of speech science research and education and related instrumentation and technology.

Topics

  • Speech biophysics
    • Anatomy and physiology
    • Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
    • Genetics
    • Tissue bioengineering
    • Acoustics
    • Aerodynamics
    • Biomechanics (kinematics and kinetics)
    • Sensation and perception (auditory, kinesthetic, other)
  • Processes of speech development
    • Speech production and perception across the lifespan
  • Comparative communication science
    • Human and animal communication processes and behaviors
  • Theories and modeling
    • Conceptual and mathematical expressions of speech production and perception
    • Speech synthesis
    • Computer speech recognition
    • Numerical and computational modeling
  • Technology
    • Instrumentation (devices, systems)
    • Translation of technology to clinic/classroom
    • Emerging technologies (including software)
  • Learning
    • Pedagogy (learning and teaching strategies, materials)
    • Translation to various disciplines (e.g., bridging science to practice)
    • Dissemination (classroom, teaching materials, publications)

Affiliate Benefits and SIG Programs

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups is the online peer-reviewed scholarly review journal of the SIGs. SIG 19 offers new self-study CE activities through Perspectives each year. 

Continuing Education

Earn ASHA continuing education units (CEUs) through 

  • Self-study of Perspectives and pay the lowest processing fee to take the learning assessments
  • SIG sponsored Master Classes and one-hour sessions at the annual ASHA Convention. 

Networking

SIG 19 Affiliates have access to exclusive discussion forums/groups, which provide the opportunity to interact with other SIG Affiliates who share interest in speech science. Use ASHA's Member Directory to search for individuals by SIG affiliation. In addition, SIG 19 Affiliates can meet in person and online at an ASHA and SIG 19 sponsored events; typically each SIG hosts an Affiliates meeting at Convention and sponsors a virtual open house.  

Coordinating Committee Members

  • 2023–2025 Coordinator: Skye Lewis, New Hanover Schools
  • 2024 Associate Coordinator: Jenna Silver Luque, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus
  • 2024–2026 Editor: Jason A. Whitfield, Bowling Green State University
  • 2022–2025 Professional Development Manager: Vikas Grover, New York Medical College
  • 2023–2025 Member-at-Large: Christina Kuo, James Madison University
  • 2022–2024 Member-at-Large: Karen J. Kushla, Lehman College, CUNY
  • Ex Officio: Lisa Rai Mabry-Price, Associate Director, School Services in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA

Editorial Board

View the Editorial Board Roster for Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups.

Professional Development Committee

  • Vikas Grover, Professional Development Manager
  • Carly Jo Hosbach-Cannon
  • Nichole Houle
  • James J. Mahshie
  • Sona M. Patel
  • Juliana Powell
  • Carol A. Tessel
  • Jarrad A. Whitfield, Editor
  • Lisa Rai Mabry-Price, Ex Officio

Liaisons to the ASHA Board of Directors

  • Janice R. Trent, 2022–2024 Vice President for Audiology Practice
  • Ryan M. Lee James, 2024–2026 Vice President for Speech-Language Pathology Practice

ASHA Corporate Partners