The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its consumer affiliate have released a new PSA and public education campaign aimed at caregivers of people with speech, language, or hearing difficulties — with poll data showing that audiologist and speech-language pathologist intervention significantly improves outcomes.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Communication Health Support Association (CHSA), ASHA’s 501(c)(3) consumer affiliate, have launched the “Helping You Communicate” campaign along with a new public service announcement (PSA) designed to shed light on the daily communication challenges faced by caregivers of people with speech, language, or hearing difficulties.
The campaign, which has no set end date given the ongoing relevance of caregiving, draws on findings from a national poll that YouGov conducted and ASHA commissioned. That poll found communication breakdowns are a frequent and significant barrier in caregiving relationships, contributing to emotional outbursts, frustration, and feelings of sadness, depression, and helplessness among both caregivers and care recipients.
The poll also found a clear upside: when care recipients with communication difficulties received treatment from an audiologist or speech-language pathologist (SLP), daily life improved markedly. Approximately 90% of caregivers whose loved ones were treated by audiologists or SLPs said they would recommend those professionals to others in similar situations.
Communication disorders are among the most common conditions affecting children and adults in the US. When left unaddressed, they can impede academic or career success, limit social interactions, and diminish overall quality of life. Audiologists and SLPs work not only with patients directly, but also with their caregivers — providing strategies to support communication outside of clinical sessions.
The PSA at the center of the campaign conveys the real-world experiences of caregivers navigating these challenges and points audiences toward professional resources. More information and campaign materials are available at helpingyoucommunicate.org.
ASHA represents 247,000 members and affiliates, including audiologists, SLPs, speech-language-hearing scientists, audiology and SLP assistants, and students. CHSA, which focuses on public education around communication disorders, is backed by ASHA’s clinical expertise and its century-long history as a national leader in human communication health.
