We’re pleased to announce the 2026 ASHA Journals Awards! As we have in the past, we’re announcing awardees in two categories: (1) The Alfred K. Kawana Award for Lifetime Achievement in Publications and (2) the Editor’s Awards. You can find more information on the ASHA Journals Awards, including present and past recipients, on the ASHA Journals Awards page on ASHAWire.
The Alfred K. Kawana Award for Lifetime Achievement in Publications
This award, named in memory of former Director of ASHA Publications Alfred K. Kawana, recognizes an ongoing history of exemplary publications. Awardees have authored articles in ASHA Journals with significant educational, scientific, or clinical value over a period of at least 10 years. For information on the Kawana Award, including present and past recipients, see the Kawana Award page on ASHAWire.
2026 Kawana Awardee: Sharynne McLeod, PhD
Dr. Sharynne McLeod is a Distinguished Professor of Speech and Language Acquisition at Charles Sturt University in Australia. She has received honors from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and served six times on the ASHA Convention Program Committee. She served as an editorial board member ASHA Journals, was the lead author on articles that received ASHA Journals Editor’s Awards in 2018 and 2019, and has received worldwide acclaim for transformative research on communication rights.
She has authored or co-authored 50 articles in ASHA Journals, dating back to 1994. Together, these articles have amassed more than 2,800 citations and have been read more than 700,000 times.
One article, “Children’s English Consonant Acquisition in the United States: A Review,” which she co-authored with Dr. Kathryn Crowe and published in American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (AJSLP) in 2020, has recently surpassed 300,000 downloads, and two others (“The Complexity Approach to Phonological Treatment Targets,” co-authored with Dr. Holly Storkel and published in the July 2018 issue of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, and “Children’s Consonant Acquisition in 27 Languages: A Cross-Linguistic Review,” co-authored with Dr. Kathryn Crowe and published in the November 2018 issue of AJSLP) have each surpassed the 200,000-download mark.
Editor’s Awards
An Editor’s Award is awarded by each editor-in-chief from AJA, AJSLP, LSHSS, JSLHR, and Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. The award recognizes the article that the editor-in-chief and editors believe meets the highest standards in research design, presentation, and impact for a given year.
2026 Editor’s Award Winners (for articles published in 2025)
American Journal of Audiology (EIC: Christina Roup)
Usability of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in Older Adults
Laura Coco, Tiana Weeks, Colten Mouzin, Chris Rodriguez, Eliana Marvizon, Rachel Wynsma, and Ariana M. Stickel
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (EIC: Amy L. Donaldson)
Functional Reading Activities to Motivate and Empower for Young Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: A Randomized Pilot Trial
Alison Prahl, Kaitlynn Fraze, Anupama Kannan, Jeffrey Grauzer, and Rodney X. Sturdivant
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (EIC: Rita R. Patel)
Characterizing the Relationship Between the Intelligibility in Context Scale and Transcription Intelligibility in Typically Developing English-Speaking Children Between Ages 2;6 and 9;11
Jennifer U. Soriano, Tristan J. Mahr, Paul J. Rathouz, and Katherine C. Hustad
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research – Speech Section (EIC: Jessica E. Huber)
Minimal Clinically Important Differences in CAPE-V Auditory–Perceptual Ratings of Voice Quality
Julianna C. Smeltzer, Kaila L. Stipancic, and Laura E. Toles
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research – Language Section (EIC: Swathi Kiran)
Prelinguistic Communication Complexity of Children With Neurogenetic Syndromes
Lisa R. Hamrick, Olivia Boorom, Katiana Estrada, Nancy Brady, and Bridgette Kelleher
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research – Hearing Section (EIC: Rachael Frush Holt)
Predicting the Auditory Language Ability of Young Children With Hearing Loss Using Their Mothers’ Brain Activity
Yu Zhai, Yajing Xing, Jianlong Zhao, XiangYu He, Kexin Jiang, Tengfei Zhang, and Chunming Lu
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (EIC: Karla N. Washington)
Functional Language Proficiency in Bilingual Children: A Conceptual Framework, Culturally Responsive Practice, and Measurement Approach
Genesis D. Arizmendi
Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups (EIC: Teresa Girolamo)
Consideration of Intersectionality in the Context of Neurodiversity-Affirming Services for Black Autistic People
D’Jaris Coles-White, Oluwatobi Abubakare, Shanter H. Alexander, and Danai Kasambira Fannin
Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups (EIC: Kendrea L. Garand)
The Role of Voice Fundamental Frequency in the Perception of Anger in Clear Speech
Sarah Hargus Ferguson, Tara Smalley, Sierra Bennion, and Elizabeth D. Young
Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups (EIC: Ishara Ramkissoon)
Exploring Auditory Processing Abilities and the Impact on Response Time and Hearing Aid Benefit
Alyssa J. Davidson, Gregory M. Ellis, Varsha Rallapalli, and Douglas Brungart
Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups (EIC: Danai Kasambira Fannin)
Asynchronous Telehealth for Dysphagia Management: Evidence, Possibilities, and Practical Examples
Cagla Kantarcigil, Rebecca Frances Smith, Bonnie Martin-Harris, Loni C. Arrese, and Georgia A. Malandraki
