6.2: The History of Communication Disorders

In 1925, the American Academy of Speech Correction, ASHA’s original predecessor, was founded at an informal meeting of the National Association of Teachers of Speech. This organization was originally composed of teachers working in the areas of rhetoric, debate, and theater, and its members were becoming increasingly interested in the scientific study of speech correction. The American Academy of Speech Correction went through several name changes before settling on the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA).

Beginning in 1910, “speech correctionists” were hired to work in Chicago Public Schools. That same year, two speech centers opened in Detroit Public Schools. Many large school districts followed suit, and by the 1950s, “speech correctionists” were common in elementary schools (Hulit et al., 2015). In the 1970s, knowledge of language development increased, and “speech therapists” learned to identify and treat communication disorders. Today, speech–language pathologists (SLP) work closely with special education and general education teachers to provide services to students with communication disorders and are also part of the referral and IEP process when appropriate (Smiley et al., 2022).

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): The Early Years of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services

Directions: Learn more about the history of communication disorders by reading The Early Years of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in U.S. Schools by Judith Felson Duchan. How do these services help students improve their quality of life?

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 Hulit, L.M., Fahey, K.R., & Howard, M.R. (2015). Born to talk: An introduction to speech and language development (6th ed.). Pearson.

Smiley, L. R., Richards, S.B., & Taylor, R. (2022). Exceptional students: Preparing teachers for the 21st century (4th ed.). McGraw Hill.