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Better Hearing and Speech Month

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM). The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association founded Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) in 1927 to promote awareness of hearing and speech impairments and motivate people to think about their hearing and have it tested.

 In Canada, the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) joins the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) and other organizations to observe Better Hearing and Speech Month.

The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) is a non-profit organization that provides services to deaf and partially deaf individuals. It also promotes hearing loss prevention. CHS was founded in 1940 and now has 13 regional offices and 16 local offices around Ontario.

Founded in 1982, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) has a global reputation for creating and implementing a wide range of projects that have challenged the status quo in dealing with individuals with hearing loss. CHHA collaborates with hearing loss experts, service providers, and the government to provide life-enhancing information, support, and advocacy to ensure individuals with hearing loss may overcome barriers in all parts of their lives.

Around 1.5 billion people suffer from hearing loss globally, and almost 430 million of them suffer disabling hearing loss. According to the estimates, approximately 700 million individuals will have disabling hearing loss by 2050. 

The fundamental components of communication—sensing, understanding, and responding to people and things in their environment—can be a problem for people with hearing loss.

Communication skills are necessary for learning, working, socializing, and achieving and maintaining independence. As we begin our lives, hearing people in the family and surroundings help children learn to talk. When a child suffers hearing loss, the parts of the brain responsible for communication may not develop properly. It makes comprehension and communication extremely tough as a child and can make a significant impact throughout their lives.

It is crucial to detect and treat hearing loss as soon as possible. Many people have undiagnosed hearing loss and are unaware that they miss specific sounds and words. The first step toward resolving the problem is to test one’s hearing.

When there are problems with communication, it impacts all parts of a person’s life, including relationships with family and at work. People need to Interact and communicate to perform tasks in various aspects of their lives such as school, employment, health care settings, and social activities. At work, your safety may depend on your ability to detect various risks in your environment. Your productivity may also benefit from your ability to communicate plans and progress accurately to colleagues.

For example, the consequences of specific language impairment (SLI), a communication impairment that interferes with language development in children, may last forever. Adults with SLI may learn methods for managing symptoms and enhancing their daily work, family, and social interactions with help.

Overcoming communication issues is more crucial now than ever before, given the increased usage of technology to work and communicate from a safe distance during the pandemic.

Benefits Of Speech And Hearing Problem Awareness:

Hearing Loss May Be Isolating, separating a person from other people and activities. Being aware of hearing loss allows you to be more mindful of your hearing health and detect any early signs and symptoms of hearing loss. With this information, you will not only be able to take appropriate actions as soon as you notice a problem, but you will also be able to teach others about hearing health management.

Because sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible, early preventative and curative treatments, such as using hearing aids on the advice of experienced hearing professionals, can slow the progression of hearing loss and provide a higher quality of life.

Awareness of Speech, Language, and Hearing Issues can:

• Assist you in avoiding future costs for medical conditions due to untreated speech, language, and hearing impairments.
• Reduce the time and money spent looking for tools and services to increase your productivity at work or in your personal life.
• Demonstrate the value of communication in daily life, whether professional or personal.

The most beneficial thing you can do is get your (and your loved ones’) hearing tested. An audiologist or hearing health professional performs the hearing test and advises on the most effective plan to address your hearing loss. Medical treatment, hearing aids, or speech and language therapy may be the options.

Contact one of our two locations to book your hearing test in Thunder Bay at Expert Hearing Solutions. Baseline hearing tests are complimentary with results from your hearing test provided the same day. 

References:

1. (n.d.). Increasing Community Awareness Of Hearing Loss. Retrieved from Ac.uk: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/CEHH13_final-2014_low-res-f.pdf
2. (n.d.). Better Hearing And Speech Month 2022. Retrieved from Asha.org: https://www.asha.org/bhsm/
3. (n.d.). May Is Better Hearing Month. Retrieved from Audiology.org: https://www.audiology.org/practice-resources/public-awareness/may-is-better-hearing-month/
4. (n.d.). May Is Better Hearing And Speech Month. Retrieved from Cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/better-hearing-and-speech-month/index.html
5. (n.d). May Is Better Hearing And Speech Month. Retrieved from Prentrom.com: https://www.prentrom.com/caregivers/may-is-better-hearing-and-speech-month