NSSLHA

National Student Speech

Language Hearing
Association

What is NSSLHA?

The National Student Speech Lan-

guage Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
was created in 1972 to meet student's
desires to have a closer affiliation with
professionals in the field of Communica-
tion Disorders. NSSLHA operates as an
independent organization and is recog-
nized by the discipline's professional
organization, the American Speech-
Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
as the official organization for students
interested in communication sciences
and disorders.
Our Vision:
NSSLHA-USF
At USF, NSSLHA members are active Education and exploration today,
members in the community. NSSLHA-USF Communication Sciences & Disorders communication for all tomorrow.
hosts several volunteer activities at University of South Florida
Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, John Knox 4203 E. Fowler Avenue, PCD 1017
Village, MOSI, Horses for Handicapped, Tampa, FL 33620
Ronald McDonald House, and many more. Phone: (813) 974-2006 Department of Communications
Fax: (813) 974-0822 Sciences & Disorders:
In addition to volunteering in the commu-
nity, NSSLHA-USF hosts several support Speech Language Pathology,
groups on campus for those with fluency Audiology, ASL, Interpreter
disorders. Training
 What is Speech Language
Pathology?
Speech language pathology is the
study of disorders that affect a person's
speech, language, voice, cognition, swal-
lowing. SLPs also aid in the rehabilitation/
corrective treatment of various physical
and cognitive deficits that result in prob-
lems communicating with others as well
as swallowing.
Speech pathologists/speech language
therapists can also assist people who
have difficulties in speech production, vo-
cal production, swallowing disorders, and
accent reduction.
Unlike other professions, Speech Lan-
guage Pathologists have a wide variety of
work environments to choose from, rang-
ing from public & private schools, hospi-
tals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care
facilities, community clinics, government
agencies, local health departments, and
research laboratories. The future for
Speech Language Pathologists is very
promising. Due to the number of baby
boomers entering middle age, more and
more people will be needing the services
of SLPs due to the possibility of increased
neurological disorders and impairments
involving speech, language, swallowing,
as well as hearing.
Audiology Cued Speech Initiative
Audiologists all across the coun- The National Cued Speech Association de-
try specialize in the study normal fines Cued Speech as a visual communication
and impaired hearing; the pre-
system that uses eight handshapes in four dif-
vention of hearing loss; identifi-
ferent placements near the face in combina-
cation and assessment of hearing and balance
tion with the mouth movements of speech to
problems; and the rehabilitation of persons with
make the sounds of spoken language look
hearing disorders. Similar to SLPs, audiologists
different from each other.
have the chance of working with a various
group of people. Audiologists work with infants, USF currently offers once
young children, and adults who may need hear- Cued Speech class to CSD
ing screenings, rehabilitation following a hearing
majors. There are also vari-
loss, or even counseling after a hearing inter-
ous workshops given through-
vention has been put into place.
out the year that help students and interested
parties learn the basics of cued speech.
ASL & Interpreter Training
Research at USF
The Department of Com-
munication Sciences & At USF, Communication Sciences and Dis-
Disorders at USF offers a orders makes a point of supporting basic and
variety of courses that can applied research in hearing, speech, lan-
prepare you to become
guage, and neurocommunicative sciences.
proficient in American Sign Language as well
There are several labs in the department that
as prepare you to become an interpreter for
focus on different areas of study, some of
deaf individuals. Within the interpreter training
which include: Auditory Perception and Inter-
track, students will learn the roles of interpret-
vention; Bilingualism and Language Variation;
ers in several settings, techniques and appli-
Language and Literacy; Language Processing
cations of interpreting, and the cognitive, psy-
and Intervention; Neurophysiology of Hearing,
chosocial, and language development of hear-
Speech, and Language; Speech and Voice
ing and deaf children in the school systems.
Production; and Speech Perception.
The minor in ASL involves taking 3 levels
The Undergraduate Honors Programs
of ASL (basic, intermediate, advanced) and 3
gives a select group of seniors in the depart-
additional ASL-related classes. Within the
ment the opportunity to gain valuable re-
CSD field, it can be very advantageous to be-
search experience by taking an Advanced
come familiar with ASL as it is very likely that
one will come across patients and clients who Honors course and writing an Honors Thesis
may use it. during their second semester.