COMMUNICATION IS KEY AT ALL AGES

COMMUNICATION IS KEY AT ALL AGES

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

According to recent data from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at least 20 percent of U.S. adults, at some point in their lives, experience significant difficulty in hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language. These challenges can compromise physical and emotional health and affect the social, educational, vocational, and recreational aspects of life.

People with Parkinson’s are well aware of the positive impact of programs and services offered by speech-language pathologists and audiologists can have on their activities of daily living.

Speech and language therapists (SLP’s) provide life-changing treatment, support, and care for people who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing. They are educated in the study of human communication, cognitive communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills. This specific skill set allows them to identify a problem along with the best form of treatment.

Hearing and Balance – Audiologists are also health care professionals who provide patient-centered care in the field of prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other disorders for people of all ages.

Your balance system helps you to stand, walk and move around your environment without falling. Balance disorders can be the result of many health conditions, so a complete examination by your health professional is always recommended as a first step. A loss of balance can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as dizziness, thus increasing your risk of falling. An audiologist can help you learn more about your balance system, balance problems, and treatment options.

If you are experiencing any challenges with your speech or hearing, especially this month, be sure to take time to contact PRO for resources in your region to follow up with screening and testing.  Easy Speech Therapy Center will help you with these issues and more!

You can find Easy Speech Therapy Center in the Wellness Village at ParkinsonsResource.org/the-wellness-village/directory/easy-speech-communication-center where they have been members since Feb 12, 2015.