Speech-Language Pathologists use a variety of exercises and techniques to address communication disorders. -Photo by VNS Health By Charlene Cano, Senior Speech Language Pathologist, VNS Health Bronx Voice  May 21, 2024 NEW YORK - Picking up the phone to catch up with an old friend. Eating a special holiday meal with the whole family. Telling “Alexa” to turn the lights off. These are activities so common we start to take them for granted. However, for many of us,  injuries and chronic illnesses can cause us to develop communication disorders, meaning the ability to do things like hear, speak, swallow and even eat become difficult or impossible. Beyond the physical discomfort, it can also impair an individual’s ability to stay independent. This year, as we reflect on National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, it is a valuable time to look at the ways we can address the prevalence of communication disorders, which impact 5-10% of the population . Working as a speech-language pa