Communication Disorders Help: Don’t Wait to get it!
Communications Disorders Can Affect Anyone at Anytime
How many Americans have Communication Disorders? How many more need Communication Disorders Help? 42 Million Americans have a speech, language or hearing disorder! Millions more are affected as well, as they struggle to support their loved ones who are frustrated by these issues. A communication disorder can happen to anyone at any time, limiting the potential for academic, social and career achievement.
My Grandmother had severe hearing loss in her later years, resulting from an undefined cause. My father has work-related hearing loss. With my grandmother, towards the end of her life, she couldn’t really talk on the phone because she couldn’t hear what the caller said. When you were in the same room with her, you needed to talk to her directly or she could NOT understand what you were saying. This normally sweet and calm woman was very frustrated by her loss of hearing. With my father, although his hearing is fine around the house, I notice that he has trouble hearing in large “party” type situations or most public venues. There seems to be too many inputs competing for his auditory senses. My father doesn’t really get that frustrated but it bothers my mother A TON! As is often the case, the secondary partner suffers as much as the person with the disorder.
What is a Communication Disorder?
Communication Disorders include: language, speech or voice disorders including such challenges as stuttering, balance, swallowing, and hearing impairment.
Annie Glenn and John Glenn provide inspiration for Communication Disorders Help
Annie Glenn, wife of Senator and astronaut John Glenn, got help at age 50! Annie Glenn, a woman over 45, had a severe stutter which she was able to overcome with an intensive program. The Annie Glenn Award, is a pretigious award given to an individual who demonstrates Annie Glenn’s tireless efforts to build public awareness on behalf of those with communication disorders. Past recipients of the Annie Glenn Award include James Earl Jones,Vice President Joseph Biden, Julie Andrews, Bob and Lee Woodruff, Mick Fleetwood, Jane Seymour, Joey McIntyre and Bob Love.
Watch the video below as Annie Glenn describes how she got Communication Disorders Help!
Top Ten Communication Disorders Tips: How Can you Get Help or Help Someone with Communication Disorders?
- Don’t Wait…Get Help. Visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website and use this Professional Search tool page, to find either audiologists or speech-language therapists: http://www.asha.org/proserv/
- Don’t Wait…Give Help. If a loved one needs your help, make them aware of the many avenues out there to get help.
- TAKE ACTION! Contact your Federal and State legislators about issues that are important to those with Communication Disorders. You can get help and advice on taking action>>Here<<
- Share this blog post across your social media channels by using the share buttons on the left side of this post.
- Head over to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Pinterest and follow them for all the latest Pins on Communication Disorders, Job Search Tips, Special Needs Articles, and all ASHA NEWS
- Head over to the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Associaton (ASHA) Facebook Page to find a place for ASHA members and the public to share information, ask for help, and network.
- Head over to the official Twitter feed from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Tom Jelen, director of online communications, is usually tweeting.
- Head over the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) YouTube Channel to see Informative Videos, Humorous Videos, “About Us” Videos, and the latest video from Annie Glenn
- Visit the ASHA home page for a variety of Communication Disorders Help resources.
PIN this Pin below to Pinterest to help raise awareness for those with Communication Disorders.
Blog Note: I wrote this blog post while participating in a campaign by BOOMboxNetwork.com on behalf ASHA.org and received payment for my participation. All opinions stated within are my own.
Julie Andrews and Darth Vader — really?
Thanks for supporting ASHA.
Thanks for all the information! I really had no idea!
My father was hard of hearing and used aids. Hubby is hard of hearing and won’t give up and get some–mostly because he’s heard so many horror stories about people spending big bucks and still not being able to hear. Anyway, conversation between the two of them was sometimes quite amusing.
It’s not amusing for the hard of hearing person, however. Some people assume you’re stupid if you don’t understand them, never considering that your lack of understanding could be lack of hearing. I do a lot of repeating and explaining for Hubby, and I worry for people who don’t have “hearing aid wives” to help them out.
Thank you for publicizing an all-too-common problem, in all its facets–not just hearing problems.
I saw that video of American Idol and it was truly inspirational!
I missed this episode of American Idol so I am happy to see just how moving it is and how well it helps to explain the complexity of communication problems. YOu would never believe that he could sing without stuttering. For that matter you wouldn’t believe that Annie Glenn was able to correct her problem. But she did. Thanks for sharing this post.
Seeking help is so important. My friends child was non verbal to 5. Had he seemed help earlier, he probably would have been a lot better off!
Very inspirational post. Thank you for sharing!!!
Very helpful tips – Thank You
What a great public service post. You’re right. So many of us take for granted being able to speak with ease. I can’t even imagine how frustrating it would be to have a communication disorder!
I appreciate this post because I have a lot of students who struggle with communication disorders. It’s a problem that isn’t easily understood by others and can cause a lot of issues in the classroom if teachers (and parents) aren’t aware of ways to help.
Great information to share. I am pinning too.
I didn’t realize there were so many communication disorders; it’s enough to make anyone a hypochondriac….I just hit the other half in the head with a frying pan when I don’t understand him….but I think that’s because he’s a male, not because of a communication disorder….Maybe I have a listening disorder….In any case, this is something we don’t think about too much, but a topic that can cause much frustration if not understood. Thanks for sharing.
We have faced this issue in our family. Thanks for sharing because I am afraid a lot of people don’t get this.
My son had a speech delay and disorder. After 2 years of speech therapy he’s improved so much, but those were very hard years on all of us. I agree that seeking help immediately is imperative.
Wow – I had no idea that so many people had communication disorders. It’s amazing how some of the things we take for granted are so precious to others. Thanks for sharing.
This is a topic that is close to my heart. My daughter has a speech delay/disorder. She doesn’t have hearing loss. infact we can’t figure out why she would have a problem talking at all because there is nothing wrong with her ears, her voice, her tongue, no illness to delay her. She just can’t talk or perform the consenants.
People just kept saying, “oh each child will learn at their own pace” so I waited and waited and waited. I finally got sick of it and got help. She is doing so much better now, but I wish I wouldn’t haev waited. There are so many early treatments we could have used had I known about them earlier. She is now 3.5 and just learning how to say simple words. Just one word! At almost 4 years old!!
DON’T WAIT!…GET HELP!.
Communication is something we take for granted, but it’s amazing how many people suffer in silence, without getting help. This is such a great campaign–inspirational, like your post. ;-)))
Hey there, Shelley! I was overwhelmed by the beauty of both your videos. I had heard that people who have communication problems with stuttering oftentimes can sing without a problem, but I have never seen anyone who stutters sing to understand it. How beautifully Lazaro sings and surely, with all of his Idol attention, he has found a ASHA therapist to guide him. How nice to be introduced to his videos. I am going to YouTube.com to listen some more. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of communication problems and their remedies. Much Love, Fondly, Robin