Health Literacy Resources and Tools

The information below offers tools and strategies to help audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) support person-centered care and health literacy.

This list is not exhaustive, and the inclusion of any specific programs, products, or services from outside sources does not imply endorsement from ASHA.

Frameworks and Organizations

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Health Literacy Federal agency resources to help health professionals and organizations make information easier to understand and health systems easier to navigate.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Health Literacy Federal agency site that provides research, training tools, and public health resources to improve health literacy—including the CDC’s Health Literacy Action Plan, based on the National Action Plan.
Healthy People 2030: Health Literacy Federal initiative that provides health literacy definitions and national objectives that guide efforts to eliminate health disparities and improve health and well-being.
Institute for Healthcare Advancement Nonprofit that educates and supports health professionals and organizations to remove communication barriers. Offers networking, trainings, and other resources.
Roundtable on Health Literacy Forum dedicated to developing, implementing, and sharing evidence-based health literacy practices and policies. Publishes a collection of reports on key health literacy topics.
Think Cultural Health Free online trainings and tools to help providers deliver responsive care and communications per the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care.

Plain Language Tools and Guidelines

CDC: Everyday Words for Public Health Communication Simplified alternatives to technical jargon—with examples for clearer public health materials.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Guidelines for Effective Writing Support for creating health content that people can easily read, understand, and use.
Digital.gov: Federal Plain Language Guide Series Guidelines for writing clear content across digital platforms using plain language, adapted from the archived PlainLanguage.gov site. Digital.gov also offers resources on accessibility, design, and usability.
Health Literacy Online Guide to designing user-friendly, accessible health websites and digital tools.
Just Plain Clear® Glossary (UnitedHealth Group) and Plain Language Medical Dictionary (University of Michigan) Plain language medical glossaries that define jargon and thousands of health-related terms simply and clearly.
Model Notices of Privacy Practices (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) Templates to help organizations create HIPAA notices in plain language.
Public Health Communications Collaborative: Plain Language for Public Health Tools and examples to help public health professionals apply plain language principles and counter misinformation.

Health Literacy Assessment Tools and Techniques

Ask Me 3® Program that encourages patients to ask three key questions to improve understanding and engagement in care.
CDC: Clear Communication Index Research-based tool with 24 questions to help develop, assess, and improve the clarity and readability of health materials.
Center for Health Care Strategies: Health Literacy Fact Sheets Information on what health literacy is, how it affects outcomes, and ways to assess and improve communication practices.
Teach-Back Toolkit [PDF] Guide for health care providers in using the teach-back method to confirm patient and care partner understanding.
University of Maryland Horowitz Center: Web Content Review Tool [PDF] Framework to assess web content for plain language, content organization, and actionable items.

Multimedia Resources

Health Literacy in 1 Minute or Less (Video Series) Short, engaging tutorials that explain key health literacy concepts for professionals and patients.
Health Literacy Out Loud (Podcast) Interviews with health literacy experts offering tips and real-world strategies.