About the association
Mission and vision
The mission of the Louisiana Speech-Language Hearing Association is to provide representation and support for speech-language pathologists and audiologists while advocating for accessibility of high-quality patient services and evidence-based professional education.
WHAT WE DO
What SLPs and audiologists do across Louisiana communities
Tap a building to see who works there and the people they help.
Pick a place
SLPs and audiologists work in all eight of these places across Louisiana. Tap one, or take the tour.
All eight places, as a list
School
School-based SLPs and educational audiologists
Schools employ more SLPs than any other setting. Here they help students talk, read, and take part in class.
- Help students say sounds clearly, from r to s (SLP)
- Build the language skills behind reading and writing (SLP)
- Treat stuttering and voice problems (SLP)
- Set up talkers and picture boards (AAC) for students who don't speak (SLP)
- Write IEP goals with teachers and families (SLP)
- Fit remote microphones so students with hearing loss can follow the teacher (Audiologist)
Who they help: A second grader whose classmates can't understand him yet.
Hospital
Medical SLPs and hospital audiologists
After a stroke, a brain injury, or cancer surgery, SLPs help patients eat safely and talk again.
- Check swallowing with X-ray studies and scopes so patients can eat and drink safely (SLP)
- Help stroke survivors find their words again (aphasia therapy) (SLP)
- Restore voice and speech after head and neck cancer (SLP)
- Give patients on breathing tubes a way to communicate (SLP)
- Screen every newborn's hearing before they go home (Audiologist)
- Program cochlear implants after surgery (Audiologist)
Who they help: A grandfather relearning words after a stroke.
Hearing clinic
Audiologists
Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and balance problems at every age.
- Test hearing from infancy to old age (Audiologist)
- Fit, adjust, and repair hearing aids (Audiologist)
- Program and fine-tune cochlear implants (Audiologist)
- Help people manage tinnitus (Audiologist)
- Test the inner ear when someone is dizzy or falling (Audiologist)
- Make custom ear protection for plant workers, hunters, and musicians (Audiologist)
Who they help: A refinery worker who keeps asking his family to repeat themselves.
State Capitol
LSHA members and advocates
The laws that set caseloads, coverage, and licensure are written here. LSHA members show up.
- Meet legislators at Day at the Capitol (SLP)
- Explain bills like HB 774 on hearing-aid coverage in plain language (Audiologist)
- Track every bill that affects practice: 22 in the 2026 session (SLP)
- Advance HR 387, a state study of SLPA licensure (SLP)
Who they help: Every Louisianan who needs a qualified clinician.
Family home
Early intervention SLPs and pediatric audiologists
The first years matter most for talking and hearing, so a lot of this work happens on the living room floor.
- Coach parents to build first words through play, through Louisiana's EarlySteps program (SLP)
- Help babies who struggle to breastfeed or bottle-feed (SLP)
- Follow up when a newborn doesn't pass the hospital hearing screen (Audiologist)
- Fit hearing aids on infants, sometimes within the first months (Audiologist)
Who they help: A two-year-old who isn't talking yet, and a worried mom.
Nursing home
SLPs and audiologists in long-term care and home health
Later in life, communication and safe eating decide how connected and healthy someone stays.
- Keep meals safe with the right food textures and drink thickness (SLP)
- Help people with dementia stay in touch with family (SLP)
- Strengthen voices softened by Parkinson's disease (SLP)
- Make sure hearing aids fit, work, and actually get worn (Audiologist)
Who they help: A great-grandmother who wants to keep eating gumbo with the family.
University clinic
Faculty clinicians and graduate students
Louisiana's university programs train the next generation, and their clinics are open to the community.
- Supervise graduate students treating real clients (SLP)
- Run hearing clinics with lower-cost options (Audiologist)
- Research better treatments (SLP)
- Mentor students, who can join LSHA for free (SLP)
Who they help: A student deciding this is the career for her.
Rural parish
Traveling and telepractice clinicians
In parishes where the nearest clinic is an hour away, clinicians travel or connect by video.
- Drive between several schools across one parish (SLP)
- See patients by video (telepractice) (SLP)
- Run hearing screenings at health fairs and rural clinics (Audiologist)
- Practice across state lines under the interstate compact, which Louisiana joined in 2020 (SLP)
Who they help: A family in a small town far from the nearest clinic.
What is LSHA
The Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association is a state affiliate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association-the national professional association for audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists, audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
About the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA)
LSHA is the statewide professional association for Louisiana audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders.
ASHA
LSHA is the state association affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). As an affiliate, "ASHA's state advocacy team advocates on issues related to the professions at the state and local level and provides members and state speech-language hearing associations with assistance and resources."
Governed by volunteers
Our organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from members across Louisiana.