Campaign Highlighting Importance of Early Detection of Communication Disorders

GARDNER, Mass. - May 5, 2014 - PRLog -- With the nationwide launch of the new public awareness campaign Identify the Signs by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), one of Heywood Healthcare’s Speech-Language Pathologists Elizabeth Conlon encourages parents, caregivers, and others to educate themselves about the early warning signs of speech, language, and hearing disorders. The Identify the Signs campaign includes a variety of multimedia resources designed specifically for consumers. The campaign stems from ASHA’s new findings that identify lack of awareness of the early warning signs as the leading barrier to early detection and treatment.

Results of a recent survey of ASHA’s membership revealed that 45% of expert respondents reported lack of awareness as the number one barrier to early detection of communication disorders. Research has shown that early detection is critical to treating—and oftentimes reversing—communication disorders. Delayed treatment can result in isolation, poor academic or career performance, and delayed development.

“As a certified speech-language pathologist, I see how delayed intervention impacts the people of the region every single day,” Conlon says. “ASHA’s campaign has great potential to help the public identify and act on the early warning signs of communication disorders, allowing people to get the most effective treatment for the best chance at improved quality of life.”

ASHA’s campaign consists of English and Spanish television, radio, and print public service announcements disseminated to outlets across the country. In addition, the effort includes an online banner ad and features a campaign website highlighting the early warning signs of speech, language, and hearing disorders, as well as consumer resources for treatment and help.

Conlon continued, “Far too many people in in the Gardner and Athol areas—and across the country—suffer from communication disorders. This campaign has the ability to reduce that number by helping people to identify the first signs of these disorders and seek professional help immediately.”

For more information, visit www.IdentifyTheSigns.org.

###

About Heywood Hospital
Part of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 134-bed acute care hospital in Gardner, MA, which provides a broad range of high quality medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital’s Centers of Excellence include the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center; and the Heywood Heart Center, an affiliate of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Health Care.

About Athol Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Athol Hospital is a 25-bed non-profit, acute care and outpatient facility serving the communities of the North Quabbin region of Massachusetts. It is designated as a Critical Access Hospital and Primary Stroke Center, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and accredited by the Joint Commission.

About Heywood Healthcare
Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system located in the North Central region of Massachusetts. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a non-profit, 134-bed acute-care hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25 bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region; and four satellite facilities -Winchendon Health Center and Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, West River Health Center in Orange and Heywood Rehabilitation Center in Gardner.