Speech-Language Disorders
When people think about speech and language they probably associate the two with talking. Although both are centered around communication, they have very different definitions. Speech is defined as the way we say sounds and words. Language is defined as the words we use to share our thoughts and ideas. When a problem occurs with either, there are a list of disorders that can occur. With speech, people can have trouble speaking clearly, stuttering or have a raspy voice. Those with a language disorder can have a hard time understanding others, talking, reading and writing. These speech and language disorders can happen to anyone at any age.
- There are 40 million Americans who face communication disorders
- By the time children reach the first grade, 5% of them will have a noticeable speech disorder
- Over 3 million Americans stutter
- Somewhere between six and eight million Americans have a form of language impairment
- Around 1 million Americans suffer from aphasia (loss of ability to understand or express speech)
Hearing Disorders
Hearing Loss disorders can be complicated based on the degree and type of hearing loss. There are three types of hearing loss which deal with which part of your hearing is damaged. They are categorized as Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed Hearing Loss. Visiting an audiologist can determine which type of hearing loss you have, and to what degree. Using sound tests, the amount of time it takes for you to identify a sound is equivalent to the degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss can range from slight to mild to profound, and the audiologist will use a decibel system (dB HL) to determine your level of hearing loss.
- 1 in 5 Americans have hearing loss in at least one ear
- About 36 million Americans have a degree of hearing loss
- A 2011 poll of AARP members showed 47% of them have untreated hearing loss
- 26 million Americans aged 20-69 have hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises
Similar in look to a hearing aid, SpeechEasy’s devices help those communicate more effectively. By altering the sound that goes through the device, our devices can alter the pitch of your voice, helping you fix a stuttering problem. Regain control of your speech, and visit a Speech Easy provider today!
