CELEBRATE BETTER HEARING AND SPEECH MONTH THIS MAY
WITH THE AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION

Month each May to raise public awareness of speech and language disorders that affect 14 million Americans.

Speech and language disorders can take many forms and can limit academic achievement, social adjustment, and career advancement. An individual may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.

"Fortunately, most people with speech and language problems can be helped," said Hagenbuch.  "Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach people with speech and language problems strategies to help them cope. People may not fully regain their capacity to speak and understand, but a speech-language pathologist can help them live more independently."

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who treat all types of speech, language, and related disorders. They hold at least a master’s degree and are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In Illinois, they also are licensed by the state. Speech-language pathologists work in schools, private practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education settings.

At Mendota Community Hospital, we provide services for infants through adults with a variety of speech, language, and swallowing disorders.  Kati Hagenbuch is an Early Intervention Specialist which serves the birth to three populations.  She is also certified in VitalStim therapy and the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Protocol, both of which treat patients of all ages with swallowing disorders.  Call the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Mendota Community Hospital at (815) 539-1409 ext. 5725 to learn more.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for more than 145,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists.