Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) is the statewide professional organization for its members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, parents/caregivers, support personnel, and students. The overall mission of the Mississippi Speech-language-Hearing Association is to support audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Mississippi by providing resources, information, and professional/continuing educational development opportunities; promote the highest ethical and professional standards; and advocate for legislation and regulation necessary for members to provide quality care for individuals with communication, hearing, balance, and swallowing disorders.

Audiologists evaluate, diagnose, and provide rehabilitative services for hearing and balance disorders and recommend hearing aids as well as other assistive amplification devices for individuals from birth to adults. Speech-language pathologists evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages.

Statistics via the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders indicate that approximately 7.5 million people in the U.S. have voice problems involving pitch, loudness, and quality. The prevalence of speech sound disorders in young children is 8-9% and by first grade roughly 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders. It is estimated that more than 3 million Americans and more than 15 million in the world have fluency disorders. Between 6 and 8 million people in the U.S. have some form of language impairment. Specific language impairment (SLI) in the preschool and early school years is between 2 and 8%. Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities in children affecting communication. Aphasia is often an acquired language disorder in adulthood.

Full membership in the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association includes audiologists and speech-language pathologists that hold at least a master’s degree, are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and are licensed by the Mississippi Board of Health and/or Mississippi Department of Education. There are also CFY, Associate, Life, and Student memberships available.