Technology

Communication Breakdowns Are a Major Hurdle for Caregivers

Published

12 months ago

May 1, 2025

New ASHA–YouGov Poll Reveals Experiences of Caregivers of People With Communication and Other Challenges

Caregivers Highly Rate the Help of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A majority of caregivers of children and adults with communication difficulties (60%) say that communication breakdowns make their role more challenging, according to a national poll commissioned by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and conducted by YouGov.

Millions of Americans have communication disorders—which include speech, language, and hearing difficulties.

The poll results are being released today—the start of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month—to raise awareness about the critical role that caregivers play and what they experience.

Millions of Americans have communication disorders—which include speech, language, and hearing difficulties. The disorders are common in young children, school-aged children, and adults. Some people are born with them. Others acquire communication disorders later in life from various causes—including accidents or injuries, strokes, neurodegenerative conditions, and cancers of the head and neck. Communication difficulties can be a natural result of the aging process, too.

Impact of Communication Breakdowns
The communication breakdowns described by caregivers include their inability to understand what the care recipient wants or needs due to the care recipient’s communication challenges; anger or other emotional outbursts by the care recipient when they can’t get their message across; and frustration on caregivers’ part when they need to repeat messages multiple times because the person they are caring for can’t remember what was said to them or can’t hear what is being said.

More than half (59%) of caregivers of people with communication difficulties say that daily life would be much easier if they could reduce communication breakdowns, and 53% say that such breakdowns make them feel sad, depressed, overwhelmed, helpless, or frustrated. These and other poll findings illuminate how important effective communication is for caregivers and care recipients across the age span.

There are ramifications from the communication breakdowns: nearly half (45%) of caregivers report that concerns about communication issues lead to fewer public interactions. Forty percent of those who care for children with speech, language, or hearing difficulties say that communication breakdowns are a leading cause of children’s challenges at school and daycare—as well as behavioral problems and tantrums.

Top Challenges for Caregivers
Strain on their own mental health is the top challenge for caregivers—nearly 50% of them report feeling such strain. Caregivers of children identify their leading stressors as behavioral and emotional challenges; caregivers of adults indicate household tasks as their leading stressors. Sixty-three percent of caregivers say that they need more resources and support, and only 21% are compensated for providing care. Overall, caregivers report spending an average of 39 hours per week caregiving.

“We have great empathy and respect for caregivers across country who give so much of themselves to those in their care,” ASHA 2025 President Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke, PhD, CCC-SLP, said. “They deserve greater support.”

Most caregivers are family members caring for their children and parents. The majority are women (57%), most are employed outside their caregiver role (59%), and their average age is 48. The average ages of each care recipient population (children and adults) are 11 and 68, respectively. Half of the caregivers live full time with the people in their care—and did so before they ever started providing care.

Caregivers of children are more likely to receive some form of compensation and have more access to Medicaid assistance. That can reduce economic pressures and allow caregivers more time and resources for other responsibilities.

Positive Aspects of Caregiving
Caregivers do find positivity in what they do. Most of them say that they have greater appreciation for the small moments in life, draw satisfaction from providing good care, and have developed more patience. They also see good results in other respects, including receiving help from specialists—like audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders. Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive disorders.

Sixty-five percent of caregivers whose care recipients saw an audiologist say that the audiologist improved daily life either a great deal or a good amount; 89% recommend seeing one. The percentages for speech-language pathologists are much the same: 77% and 91%, respectively.

“ASHA’s member audiologists and speech-language pathologists are committed to providing services that help people who have communication difficulties, as well as their caregivers,” Mayfield-Clarke said. “Clearly, the polling shows that their services can be very impactful.”

Caregivers show dedication to improving the communication picture between themselves and the people in their care. More than one third (36%) say that they have figured out how to communicate effectively; 34% say that they are making progress on communicating effectively; and 27% say communication is a struggle, but they’re still working on it. Only 4% reported that they or their care recipients have given up on communication entirely.

Throughout the caregiver experience, effective communication is needed in a variety of ways. At medical appointments, for example, 73% of caregivers who attend appointments either somewhat or strongly agree that health care professionals communicate with them in a manner that is easy to understand. However, only 40% of those caregivers attending appointments say that their care recipient is asked how they prefer to communicate—when a health care professional asks this of a patient or client, it helps the person equitably participate in the appointment. Also, nearly 30% say that health care professionals often don’t communicate in a way that the care recipient can understand.

“Being able to communicate effectively is a human right,” Mayfield-Clarke noted. “It applies to appointment settings, too.”

Polling Methodology: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ who are caregivers of people whom ASHA members serve (e.g., children and adults with speech, language, hearing, swallowing, balance, and/or cognitive disorders or difficulties). Fieldwork was undertaken March 6–21, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of U.S. adults ages 18+ who are caregivers of people whom ASHA members serve.

About YouGov
YouGov is a global provider of analysis and data generated by research in more than 40 markets. As online market research pioneers, YouGov’s data consistently outperform others on accuracy, as concluded by Pew Research. YouGov’s custom research specialists conduct a full spectrum of quantitative and qualitative research, providing comprehensive market intelligence to the world’s leading businesses and institutions. www.yougov.com

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 241,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. www.asha.org.

View all ASHA press releases at https://www.asha.org/about/press-room/.

CONTACT:
Joseph Cerquone
301-296-8732
JCerquone@asha.org

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SOURCE American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

Technology

MemeMax Officially Launches, Introducing a Meme-Native Perpetual Trading Infrastructure

Published

8 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

SEOUL, South Korea, SHANGHAI and NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MemeMax, a perpetual decentralized exchange (Perp DEX), has officially launched, positioning itself as a trading infrastructure purpose-built for the meme coin market.

As the memecoin sector has grown into a multi-billion-dollar asset class, the lack of derivatives infrastructure tailored to its unique dynamics has become increasingly evident. MemeMax enters the market aiming to address this gap by offering a perpetual trading environment designed specifically for meme-driven assets.

Major meme assets such as DOGE, PEPE, and WIF have historically exhibited extreme volatility driven by narrative cycles and community participation. However, existing trading platforms have struggled to fully accommodate these characteristics.

Why Traditional Perp DEX Models Fall Short for Meme Markets

Most existing perpetual DEXs were originally designed around assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), where liquidity depth, relatively stable volatility, and structured price discovery dominate market behavior.

Memecoins operate under a fundamentally different dynamic. Price movements are often driven less by fundamentals and more by narrative momentum, community coordination, and viral attention cycles. These assets tend to experience rapid expansions and collapses, often outpacing the assumptions embedded in traditional oracle and liquidation systems.

Despite this, most platforms continue to apply the same infrastructure across all asset classes—creating a structural mismatch when applied to meme markets. MemeMax takes a different approach:

rather than adapting meme assets to fit existing systems, it introduces a trading infrastructure designed specifically for meme-driven market behavior.

Trading the Full Meme Cycle

MemeMax is designed to enable users to trade across the entire lifecycle of a meme.

Shorting narrative breakdownsEntering early during revival phasesNavigating extreme volatility environments

To support this, the platform’s oracle and liquidation mechanisms are structured with high-volatility, lower-liquidity assets in mind, rather than being retrofitted from BTC-centric models

Redefining Trading as Participation

Another key distinction lies in how MemeMax reframes trading itself.

Rather than viewing trading as isolated execution, MemeMax positions it as continuous participation. On-chain user actions are interconnected within a broader system, where behavior contributes directly to the dynamics of the platform.

This reflects a broader shift in meme markets, where price formation is increasingly influenced not only by liquidity, but also by attention and user participation.

Max Points (MP): A Participation-Based Metric

At the core of the platform is Max Points (MP), a native utility system designed to quantify user engagement beyond simple trading volume.

MP is calculated based on multiple dimensions, including:

Profit and loss (P&L) experienceConsistency of platform activity

Note: Incorporating “time spent in positions” into the calculation is planned as an additional feature in a future update.

By incorporating these factors, MemeMax moves away from purely volume-driven incentive models and introduces a system that captures holistic user participation.

MP is expected to serve as a foundational metric across the ecosystem, with applications in reward distribution, seasonal events, and access to platform features. Early participation is designed to provide compounding advantages as the ecosystem evolves.

Max Points (MP): An Activity Reward System

As part of the platform’s reward system, Max Points (MP) exist to reward users for their activities. To encourage consistent user participation rather than just focusing on trading volume, MP operates on a flexible seasonal basis. Adapting to market trends, each season introduces new objectives and various forms of rewards, such as airdrops, recognizing the broader value of ecosystem participation beyond simple PnL.

Staking (Coming Soon)

The staking feature is currently in preparation and will be officially launched in the future as the platform continues to expand.

REKT Pack (In Preparation)

Additionally, it has been confirmed that a “REKT Pack” is currently in preparation. This feature aims to add a layer of entertainment by playfully sublimating user liquidations into meme culture, turning the unfortunate event of getting “rekt” into an engaging and fun experience for the community.

Seasonal Structure for Continuous Expansion

The platform operates on a continuously live trading environment, complemented by recurring seasonal events.

Each season introduces new participation mechanics and reward structures without resetting existing user data. This allows MemeMax to maintain continuity while continuously evolving alongside market dynamics.

Toward a Dedicated Financial Layer for Meme Markets

As memecoins continue to evolve into a distinct segment of the crypto market—driven by community behavior and narrative cycles—the need for specialized infrastructure has become more apparent.

MemeMax positions itself within this trend by treating memes not simply as speculative assets, but as behavior-driven market primitives, embedding these dynamics directly into its trading architecture.

According to the team, “MemeMax is not just another exchange listing meme assets—it is designed as the financial infrastructure that the meme ecosystem has been missing.”

Now Live and Closed Beta Successfully Concluded

A closed beta test was held on April 14 and successfully concluded with great interest from participants.

MemeMax is now live, with users able to access perpetual trading immediately. Participants can begin accumulating Max Points (MP) through on-chain activity and take part in upcoming seasonal events and reward programs. Early users may benefit from first-mover advantages in MP accumulation, positioning themselves favorably within the platform’s evolving incentive structure.

Learn More

Homepage: https://go.mememax.com/official-ptradeDocs: https://docs.mememax.comX (Twitter): https://x.com/MemeMax_Fi

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SOURCE MemeMax

Technology

Sonata Software Achieves AWS Migration and Modernization Competency Status

Published

8 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. and BENGALURU, India, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sonata Software (NSE: SONATSOFTW) (BSE: 532221), a leading AI-first Modernization Engineering company, today announced that it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Migration and Modernization Competency status.

This designation recognizes Sonata Software’s technical expertise and customer experience in helping enterprises accelerate application migration and modernization on AWS. It also reflects the company’s capabilities in supporting organizations as they modernize critical applications, improve operational efficiency, and build agile, resilient, and scalable digital platforms.

The AWS Migration and Modernization Competency helps customers identify AWS Partners with validated capabilities in migrating and modernizing applications from on-premises environments or other cloud platforms. This designation reflects Sonata Software’s capabilities in supporting customers across transformation initiatives spanning application migration, modernization, and optimization on AWS.

“Achieving the AWS Migration and Modernization Competency is an important milestone for Sonata Software and reflects our continued focus on modernization-led transformation,” said Manu Swami, Chief Technology Officer at Sonata Software. “For many enterprises, application modernization is now central to improving resilience, accelerating software delivery, and creating a more adaptable technology foundation. Our focus is on helping clients reduce technical debt, modernize with engineering rigor, and build platforms that support continuous innovation at scale.”

“Achieving the AWS Migration and Modernization Competency reinforces Sonata Software’s position as a trusted partner for enterprises pursuing large-scale transformation,” said Anthony Lange, Chief Revenue Officer at Sonata Software. “Our clients are looking for modernization programs that move quickly, reduce risk, and deliver visible business impact. This recognition strengthens our ability to take that message to the market and underscores the value we bring in helping customers accelerate outcomes through our partnership with AWS.”

Sonata Software continues to strengthen its AWS-aligned capabilities across cloud migration, application modernization, data transformation, platform engineering, and AI-enabled software delivery. In addition to the AWS Migration and Modernization Competency, Sonata has recently achieved AWS DevOps and Generative AI Competencies, along with key AWS service certifications, further reinforcing its ability to help enterprises simplify complexity, modernize business-critical systems, and derive value from their AWS investments.

About Sonata Software

Sonata Software is an AI-first modernization engineering company that helps enterprises transform legacy systems into intelligent, scalable business platforms. Powered by its Platformation™ framework and Harmoni.AI platform, Sonata delivers AI-led modernization across cloud, data, AI, Dynamics, test automation, and managed services. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Sonata has more than $1.2 billion in revenue and 6,400+ AI engineers supporting global delivery across regions including the US, UK, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Australia, DACH, and the Nordics. With deep partnerships across Microsoft, AWS, Salesforce, and Snowflake, Sonata helps Fortune 500 enterprises accelerate innovation, improve efficiency, and drive sustainable growth.

For more information, please visit https://www.sonata-software.com/

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Technology

BELLA+CANVAS Brings Coachella 2026 Merchandise to Life with Immersive “Museum of Merchandise” Experience

Published

8 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Premium apparel leader transforms festival merch into a living archive of culture, creativity, and self-expression

INDIO, Calif., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BELLA+CANVAS, the industry leader in premium blank apparel, successfully concluded its role as the official blank apparel provider for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2026 merchandise program, delivering both product and a standout on-site activation across two record-setting festival weekends.

At the heart of Coachella’s merchandise ecosystem, BELLA+CANVAS powered official festival products featuring a custom “printed on BELLA+CANVAS” neck label, giving fans a deeper connection to the garments they take home as wearable memories.

Extending beyond product, the brand introduced a first-of-its-kind immersive installation, “Coachella Merchandise: Then and Now — A Retrospective of Coachella Over the Years”. The design-forward, walk-through experience hosted by BELLA+CANVAS reimagined festival merchandise as both cultural archive and creative canvas. Hundreds of festivalgoers explored “Coachella: Then & Now”, revisiting standout pieces from past years while engaging in live, on-site customization.

At the “Museum of Merchandise” experience, guests were invited to print the vintage Coachella designs onto new BELLA+CANVAS t-shirts and sweatshirts of their choosing, blending past and present through personal style. With eight archival designs and eight premium garment options, attendees created unique combinations that reflected their individuality. Through live customization and past inspiration, the experience transformed nostalgia into one-of-a-kind, wearable pieces tied to each guest’s festival journey.

Across both weekends (April 10–12 and April 17–19), the “Museum of Merchandise” drew strong engagement. From festivalgoers, creators, and a curated network of industry influencers, including screen printers, merch designers, and apparel decorators, the experience was amplified in real time across digital platforms.

“Festival merchandise today is more than something you buy. It’s something you become part of,” said Megan Spire, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, BELLA+CANVAS. “At Coachella, BELLA+CANVAS set out to elevate the role of the blank and show how it serves as the foundation for cultural storytelling, creativity, and identity.”

In addition to festivalgoers, media and partners were also offered exclusive access to guided walkthroughs, behind-the-scenes insights into the evolution of festival merchandise, and conversations at the intersection of fashion, music, and experiential storytelling.

As festival merchandise continues to evolve into a form of cultural currency, BELLA+CANVAS’ presence at Coachella 2026 reinforced its position not only as a supplier but as a defining force behind how those stories are created and worn.

About BELLA+CANVAS
BELLA+CANVAS is a premium apparel company redefining the role of the “blank” clothing product in modern fashion, retail, and brand storytelling. Known for its elevated quality, on-trend fits, and commitment to innovation, the company partners with leading brands, creators, and cultural institutions to power high-impact merchandise and experiential moments. By combining fashion-forward design with scalable production capabilities, BELLA+CANVAS sits at the intersection of apparel, creativity, and culture while serving as the foundation behind some of today’s most influential branded experiences.

Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellacanvas/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bellacanvas/

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