ASHA’s Surveys and Information Team oversees all survey and evaluation activities for ASHA boards, committees, councils, National Office staff, strategic initiatives, and grant projects awarded to the Association. The unit identifies, collects, compiles, and disseminates information on employment characteristics, workforce/shortage, caseload/productivity, salaries, opinions of ASHA’s current and proposed activities/programs, and related issues.
ASHA fields two major surveys each year, alternating between four target populations: audiologists, school-based speech-language pathologists, health care-based speech-language pathologists, and a rotating population (e.g., researchers) for the purpose of collecting and providing baseline data (e.g., salary data) on specific segments of the Association membership. Survey results are presented in sets of topical reports by profession.
ASHA also routinely gathers and presents workforce-related data, including Personnel-to-Population Ratios figures and tables and Supply and Demand Resource Lists for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists.
In addition, ASHA prepares counts and demographic profiles of the ASHA membership and affiliation at year-end. These data show the composition of the membership and affiliation with regard to race, ethnicity, employment characteristics, and other key variables.
The recent launch of the Higher Education Data System (HES) will offer another data collection and reporting mechanism. Data collected via the HES’ Graduate Guide Survey (just completed), Joint ASHA-CAPCSD Research Doctoral Survey (launch planned late fall 2007); CAPCSD Demographic Survey (underway) and future CAPCSD Salary Survey and CAA accreditation reports will provide data that address trends in CSD higher education that affect the preparation of future clinicians and faculty-researchers. ASHA developed the HES system in collaboration with CAPCSD and CAA so that the HES would ultimately serve as an authoritative source of CSD data. For questions related specifically to HES, contact CSDEducationSurvey@asha.org or AcademicAffairs@asha.org.
These data are used by our members in preparing grant applications and manuscripts; in negotiating salaries, workloads, and caseloads; developing new models of education and curricula; reviewing and updating credentialing standards; and in lobbying efforts.
ASHA staff are available to take your questions related to member surveys, the workforce, member demographics, and other data-related topics. You may contact staff directly or send your questions to data@asha.org.
ASHA Resources
External Resources
- The Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook