Feel like you’re just not getting through to a certain family member? Maybe you’re the one who just can’t communicate with your friends and family?
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, around 40 million Americans have communication disorders, or impairments in the ability to receive, send, process and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems.
Evident in the processes of hearing, language and/or speech, ASHA estimates that communication disorders cost the United States $154 billion to $186 billion each year. And it lists a lack of awareness as the top barrier to early detection, which is critical to treating ““ and oftentimes reversing ““ communication disorders.
Delayed treatment can result in isolation, poor academic or career performance, and delayed development.
Because May is National Better Hearing and Speech Month, ASHA is using the opportunity to help you learn the signs of a hearing, communication or swallowing disorder.
How to identify a speech or language disorder
Signs include:
- Difficulty understanding or responding
- Unclear speech
- Social interaction problems
- Difficulty combining words
- Trouble talking and, thereby, saying few words.
How to identify a swallowing disorder
Signs include:
- Choking
- Throat clearing or coughing during or soon after eating
- A wet, “gurgly” vocal quality
- The feeling of a lump in the throat
- Repeated problems with pneumonia
How to identify a voice disorder
Signs include:
- A change in the sound of the voice
- A raspy voice
- A voice that’s gone either higher or lower in pitch
- Any hoarseness.
How to identify hearing impairment
Signs include:
- Avoiding conversation
- Listening to electronics at high volumes
- Frustration
- Muffled hearing
- Ringing
- Isolation
- Depression
- Failure to respond
- Buzzing
- Inattentiveness
“If you’ve experienced hoarseness for more than two weeks, you should have it checked by a physician who then may refer you to a speech therapist,” said Michelle Brueckner, speech pathology coordinator at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
For more information, visit www.identifythesigns.org.
