Before we begin, let’s take a moment to consider the reasons you are reading this book. Chances are, this is the assigned or recommended text for an introductory course in communication sciences and disorders. Maybe you have already decided to major in communication disorders and this is a required course. Or perhaps you have registered for the course to fill an elective requirement and have no experience with communication disorders, speech-language pathology, or audiology. Regardless, we hope that you find something in this content that ignites interest and curiosity. At the very least, we hope that you will increase your knowledge about the human brain, the speech and language system, hearing, and the many communication disorders experienced by an estimated 40 million people in the United States (Tanner, 2015). At the very best, we hope you will find the content so compelling you decide to pursue a career in the field.

Some of you may have personal experience with communication disorders or the professions of speech-language pathology or audiology. Maybe you have a family member who has had a stroke that resulted in aphasia, or grandparents who were diagnosed with dementia or hearing loss, or a younger sibling or cousin with autism. Maybe you have a relative who is a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Perhaps you yourself have a communication disorder, making this content personally relevant. Whatever the case, you have a deliberate reason for reading this book. You have listened to a voice of experience, or you ARE a voice of experience. We hope that this content gives you a solid foundation for future education in this field, that you develop a passion for pursuing a career in communication disorders, and that you have the opportunity to share your voice with others.