May is "Better Hearing and Speech Month," honoring Speech-Language Pathologists (also known as speech therapists.) A growing demand for speech therapists nationwide is especially pronounced in the New York City area, according to Teresa M. Signorelli, Ph.D., director of the Ruth Smadbeck Communication and Learning Center at Marymount Manhattan College, a free speech and hearing clinic serving adults and children in the New York metro area.
"The need for speech-language therapy is increasing, in part, because of the explosion of autism diagnoses," says Signorelli, "and because baby boomers are getting older and having strokes or simply seeing their faculties decline," including difficulties with speech, hearing, language, memory, and swallowing. Additionally, as people age, they are more prone to falls or other accidents, causing head injuries that could lead to additional impairment, according to Dr. Signorelli.
The Census Bureau reports that Baby Boomers are one of the largest generations in history. The over-65 population, which is around 35 million today, is projected to nearly double, and reach 72 million in size, by 2030, according to the Administration on Aging (AOA).
The CDC estimates that about 13% of all Americans have some type of communication or language disorder. Additionally, 1 in 110 children on average are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to include Autism, Asperger Syndrome, according to Signorelli.
"There is a desperate need for more clinicians in the New York area," says Signorelli. "The Department of Education and other providers report shortages of certified speech-language pathologists. It's a growing problem." Dr. Signorelli suspects similar shortages prevail in other cities nationwide, and says she receives several solicitations weekly for practice opportunities in speech pathology.
Health professionals at the clinic at Marymount Manhattan report dozens of successful treatment programs each year, improving patients' language comprehension, expression and related learning capacities such as memory, attention, and planning. Added with the social component of intervention, the program helps notably improve clients' quality of life.
While demand is high, public funding and insurance coverage are limited. "There are many more [people] in need of therapy than we can serve. We are primarily a teaching facility, but even so, we could do so much more for the community if we had the funding." To that end, the clinic holds annual fundraisers to maintain and expand services, and has launched a weekly workshop outreach program on child development.