Independent Speech, LLC

Communication disorders as we age

Currently, there are more than 70 million Americans who are 55 years old and older and more than 20% of those who are in this age group experience a communication disorder.  That is approximately 1.4 million people who experience some form of communication disorder.   As we age, there are normal changes that occur in our hearing, memory, speech-language and swallowing skills.  In addition, the instance of other diseases and disorders (ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, etc) also increase, which also negatively impact one’s communication skills.

There are several “warning signs” to keep a look our for:

1) You are always turning up the TV

2) You continuously need to ask people to speak louder or to repeat themselves or misunderstand what others are saying.

3) You have difficulty remembering how to do familiar task

4) You feel that you are more forgetful such as losing keys, missing appointments, getting lost, etc.

5) You can’t come up with the right words

6) You have trouble with saying what you mean or want to say

7) Your voice sounds harsh or gets weaker throughout the day

Of course, these are just a few of the areas you or a loved one may be experiencing difficulty.  If you have any concerns about communication please contact a speech pathologist.  They can talk with you about your specific concerns and make recommendations in regards to the next steps based on your specific needs and concerns.

The key to treating any communication disorder is early intervention.  The earlier you begin working on your communication skills the easier it is to make changes and learn effective strategies to aid in daily life.

To speak with one of our speech pathologists please feel free to contact us at any time.  We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss your concerns and provide information about how online speech therapy may be of benefit to you.  You can reach us by phone at 1-877-480-7913 or by e-mail at info@independentspeech.com

Online Speech Therapy provided by Independent Speech ~ www.independentspeech.com