Virtual Speech Therapy from the Comfort of Home

Author Avivit Ben-Aharon, Founder & Clinical Director

The ability to communicate easily and effectively is an essential aspect of everyday life. This skill is something that people rarely think about until we don’t have it – making it difficult to understand how hard it can be to deal with communication challenges on a dayto-day basis. The American-Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) estimates that these challenges affect as many as 46 million people or about 10 percent of the U.S. population, including anyone of any age.

While some issues are associated with congenital factors, others can develop ozer time or as part of a condition or the aging process. For example, seniors often report that diminished communication skills affect their ability to maintain healthy social engagements, prevent them from receiving adequate health care and lead to depression and other related conditions.

Speech and communication challenges include:

• Alzheimer’s and dementia-related skill loss

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Cognitive communication disorders

• Head and neck cancers

• Hearing loss

• Language and articulation disorders

• Parkinson’s disease

• Stroke and Aphasia rehabilitation

• Stuttering

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Voice disorders

• and more.

In many instances, communication issues are associated with a physical injury – such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- or even an emotional trauma. One’s ability to communicate may also be affected by the presence of a tumor in the mouth or throat, or by treatment for the tumor such as surgery or radiotherapy. Symptoms can be mild and manageable or difficult to address. Regardless of the specific challenge, there are very real reasons to seek help. Today, thanks to advances in technology and increased computer knowledge, getting the online speech therapy support one needs is now easier than ever. The True Consequences of Untreated Speech Disorders

While communication challenges affect how individuals interact and form relationships with one another, they also may directly impact a person’s overall well-being and quality of life. People who struggle to communicate may experience social, emotional and psychological setbacks and it is not uncommon for these individuals to report feelings of isolation, frustration and of feeling powerless in social situations. These can lead to anxiety, depression and a lack of overall confidence which may also weaken academic and workplace performance and impede opportunities for advancement.

Children also experience these challenges. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about five percent of students by first grade have noticeable speech disorders. Without intervention, these children can struggle with basic academic skills – specifically reading and writing – which can affect educational outcomes as well as self-esteem and confidence levels that