<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726603</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOUCHSTONE APPLIED SCIENCE ASSOCIATES INC /NY/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TASA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUGHES DONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 EAST PLATT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value, $.0001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.5</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600167</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1600167</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1600167</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>FN</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value, $.0001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.5</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>66500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>66500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>FN</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock is initially convertible into Common Stock on a one-for-one basis but is subject to anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 25, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reported shares are owned directly by Camden Partners Strategic Fund III, L.P., a limited partnership of which Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC is the general partner.  The reporting person is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC which is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported shares are owned directly by Camden Partners Strategic Fund III-A, L.P., a limited partnership of which Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC is the general partner.  The reporting person is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC which is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald W. Hughes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-05-31
0
0000726603
TOUCHSTONE APPLIED SCIENCE ASSOCIATES INC /NY/
TASA
0001211899
HUGHES DONALD W
500 EAST PLATT STREET
SUITE 1200
BALTIMORE
MD
21202
1
0
1
0
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value, $.0001
4.5
2006-05-31
4
A
0
1600167
4.5
A
2006-05-31
Common Stock
1600167
1600167
I
FN
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value, $.0001
4.5
2006-05-31
4
A
0
66500
4.5
A
2006-05-31
Common Stock
66500
66500
I
FN
The Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock is initially convertible into Common Stock on a one-for-one basis but is subject to anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 25, 2006.
The reported shares are owned directly by Camden Partners Strategic Fund III, L.P., a limited partnership of which Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC is the general partner.  The reporting person is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC which is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
The reported shares are owned directly by Camden Partners Strategic Fund III-A, L.P., a limited partnership of which Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC is the general partner.  The reporting person is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC which is the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
Donald W. Hughes
2006-06-02