How You Can Get Involved During ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’

Your ability to hear well is critical to all aspects of your life, affecting your capacity to communicate with others as well as your ability to understand what others are trying to convey. But when someone suffers from undiagnosed hearing loss, they may not understand how deeply they can be affected.

To help shine a light on the consequences of untreated hearing loss here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we are excited to participate in ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’ this May, where the theme of this year’s campaign being “Communication Across The Lifespan”.

Where ‘Better Hearing & Speech Month’ Came From

If you have ever wondered where these month celebrations come from, you may be surprised to learn that ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’ has been around longer than you may have thought.

Begun as a campaign in 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)—then known as the American Society for the Disorders of Speech—started by promoting people be screened for hearing loss. Along with this, ASHA stressed the importance of treating hearing loss early, as well as hearing loss prevention.

However, it wasn’t until U.S. president Ronald Regan in May 1986 proclaimed that May was ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’ did it officially become an observed national campaign.

Importance of Your Hearing for Good Communication

So, why is having better hearing and speech so important that a U.S. president made it a nationally observed awareness month? Well, we’re glad you asked!

Your hearing impacts your ability to do many of the things you may take for granted on a daily basis. For instance, you may not think anything about answering the phone to chat with a friend, but for someone struggling with untreated hearing loss, simply talking on the phone can become a huge ordeal.

And just think about it! Here in Las Vegas alone, there are so many things to see and hear, whether you want to catch a Bruno Mars concert at the Park Theater at Park MGM or an exciting Vegas Golden Knights home game at the T-Mobile Arena. To enjoy most activities to the fullest, your hearing needs to be up to the job of conveying what is going on around you.

Ways You Can Participate In ‘Better Hearing & Speech Month’

Participating in the May 2019 ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’ doesn’t have to be difficult. Depending on your preference and abilities, there are a number of ways you can easily join in and help raise awareness of hearing loss and impact others.

• Share on social media – Actively sharing about ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’ on your social media is a great way to help others learn about how hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to communicate. You could do something simple, such as changing your Twitter or Facebook cover photo, or Instagram your visit to one of our hearing clinics for a hearing evaluation!
• Support a loved one through a hearing exam – Facing the prospect of hearing loss can be difficult. If you have a loved one who has been putting off having their hearing tested, go ahead and volunteer to go in with them. Your support can make all the difference when it comes to their ability to feel comfortable enough to finally address their hearing loss.
• Purchase campaign products – ASHA has campaign products available that you can purchase to distribute and raise awareness. It could be as simple as passing out pens to your students if you are a teacher to buying and using a reusable campaign water bottle.

If you would like to take the opportunity to have your hearing checked during ‘Better Hearing and Speech Month’, contact us. We offer hearing evaluations, and if it turns out you do need hearing aids, you can have a 30-day trial with the hearing aids of your choice to ensure that they really do help improve your hearing and communication abilities.