05/08/2023
With speech, language, and swallowing disorders common following stroke, head and neck cancer, and a variety of other illnesses and injuries, our speech-language pathologist Jessica Byrd encourages people to learn the signs—and seek an evaluation—if they have concerns about themselves or a loved one. 💬
This is a timely message, as May is recognized nationally as Better Hearing and Speech Month! 🗣👂🦻
A person’s ability to communicate effectively is something that’s easy to take for granted until it’s compromised. Communication enables us to connect with others. It’s needed to learn, to earn a living, and to fulfill our basic wants and needs. Given this, it is critical people know the signs of communication disorders, and the availability of help from certified speech-language pathologists. 🙂
The causes of speech and language problems that begin for the first time in adulthood can vary. They include brain injury, stroke, and diseases that affect the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. They can also stem from cancers of the head and neck, breathing problems, and vocal cord injury. 💔
For adults, the signs of speech and language disorders may include the following: 👇👇👇
• problems saying sounds correctly
• slurred or slowed rate of speech
• problems coordinating mouth or speech movements
• difficulty imitating speech sounds
• struggles to get out sounds or words
• repetition of sounds, words, or parts of words
• changes in voice (e.g., hoarse, raspy, breathy, nasal, or low-volume voice)
• trouble thinking of the words they want to say
• problems expressing what they want or need
• saying words in the wrong order
• trouble following directions or conversations
• difficulty understanding what others say
• new trouble reading, writing, spelling, or using numbers
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate adults for communication disorders in home-based care, health care facilities, and private practices. They help their patients and clients get back the skills important to them for their everyday activities. 👋👋👋
SLPs can help people with understanding questions, directions, conversations, and stories; expressing thoughts and words; and reading and writing. They can also help people find other ways to communicate if they are having difficulty with spoken or written communication. These may include pointing or using other gestures, drawing pictures, or using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. 🫶🤙🤘
If you would like to schedule an assessment for a communication, speech, or language disorder you may contact ActiMed Physical Therapy at 601-477-2102. More information is available at www.asha.org/public.
Source: www.ASHA.org