Accent modification: what ASHA says about the SLP’s role
ASHA states that accents “are not a communication disorder,” and that SLPs “often play a central role in the assessment and pronunciation training of individuals seeking accent modification services.” This page quotes ASHA only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: ASHA’s Practice Portal page Accent Modification.
ASHA’s Practice Portal pages are written for clinicians. Quotes below stop before ASHA’s in-text research citations.
Scope
ASHA states: “The scope of this page is limited to accent modification services provided to adults. The main focus of this content is related to nonnative accents.”
ASHA states: “Accents are a natural part of spoken language, and every person has an accent.”
Roles ASHA lists for SLPs
- “educating individuals who seek accent modification services”
- “conducting a comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment of communication skills”
- “determining the functional impact on communication and the need for accent modification services”
- “developing modification plans, providing pronunciation training, documenting progress, and determining appropriate dismissal criteria”
ASHA adds that SLPs who serve this population should be appropriately trained to do so (paraphrased). Ethics rules are covered on ethics codes.
What this page does not do
It does not repeat ASHA’s assessment or training methods. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, medicine, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.