Finding Discussion Forums

Finding mailing lists

In addition to Kuster's Directory of Discussion Forums which has several hundred mailing lists of interest to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, there are many places where you can search for mailing lists.

• Topica's mailing list directory can be searched by topic area.
• Although some Yahoogroups are not listed in their directory, many can be found using their search engine.
• An official catalog of listserv lists provides information about nearly 50,000 public lists.
• TileNet provides a directory of mailing lists by name, description, and domain.
• New-lists@listserv.classroom.com is a mailing list which sends out announcements about new mailing lists. An accessible archive of previous posts is keyword searchable.

Finding newsgroups

• Google's newsgroup search. The search engine Google recently added a feature that allows you to search a huge archive (over 700 million posts) of newsgroups as far back as 1981!
• Tile.net News
• Internet Newsgroups

Finding web-based bulletin boards

Web-based bulletin boards are set up on web pages for discussion of specific topics. You access them through a web browser, read the messages that interest you, and respond if you want.

• ASHA has an interactive web-based discussion forum open to ASHA and NSSLHA members-only. It is a good place to discuss professional questions since only ASHA-professionals have access. The bulletin boards are located in the members community"
• Speaking of Speech has several web-based discussion forums (under "This Works for Me") where clinicians can ask questions and share ideas.
• Thinking Publications has several Bulletin Boards for various topics.
• BrainTalk Communities are interactive, online discussion forums hosted by Massachusetts General Hospital about various Neurology-related topics. Past forum discussions dating as far back as 1995 are also accessible.

Chatrooms

Chatrooms are designed for live interaction/discussion between two or several persons. Many require a sophisticated computer and a web browser that will read java script. Some are public, others private. Some set up specific times where a specialist will answer questions. Some allow voice conversations.

Many Neurology Chatrooms at Massachusetts General Hospital have been available since 1995. There are currently three options. Classic Chatrooms are web-based, very basic and easy to use. They should work very well with any browser. Advanced Chatrooms require Java-capable browsers. Palace "Virtual Reality" Chatrooms are graphical with rooms that actually look like real rooms.
• Yahoo has made it possible for anyone to create a chatroom. These can be public or private. Several listed in their public directory.