National Speech, Language, and Hearing Month
May 2024
Every May, we celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of communication and the challenges faced by individuals with speech, language, and hearing disorders.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that roughly one in 12 children aged 3 to 17 experienced voice, speech, language, or swallowing issues in the last year. Additionally, approximately 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 US children are born with detectable hearing loss, with some developing hearing problems later. Left untreated, these conditions can greatly affect a child's school performance, social life, and general well-being.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) reports that over 1 million children nationwide receive school-based treatment for speech and language disorders annually. Speech-language pathologists address various difficulties in children, including:
- Speech sounds: Substituting, omitting, adding, or altering sounds, making them hard to understand.
- Understanding spoken language: Difficulty comprehending others and expressing thoughts or emotions.
- Stuttering: Getting stuck on sounds or words, often accompanied by tension or negative emotions. This tension can get in the way of how they talk to others.
- Social communication: Struggling to interpret how others feel / perspectives and/or adhere to conversational norms.
- Voice issues: Frequent loss of voice, hoarseness, breathiness, or speaking with strain.
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): Using methods like picture boards or speech-generating devices when verbal communication is challenging.
Although some children are born with atypical hearing, others develop difficulties with their hearing later in childhood. Untreated hearing loss can impact a child’s schooling, social life, and behavior. What are the signs of hearing loss in children?
- Turning the TV volume up louder than others find comfortable
- Struggling in school without clear reasons
- Mentioning hearing ringing or other sounds in their ears
- Being socially withdrawn or unhappy
If you're worried about your child's hearing, contact their school or see an audiologist for a comprehensive evaluation.
Hearing loss from noise exposure is completely preventable by taking some simple steps to protect your child’s hearing, include:
- Lower the volume on electronic devices, aiming for half volume or less, especially with earbuds or headphones.
- Stay at least 500 feet away from loud sources like speakers, stages, or fireworks.
- Take breaks from loud environments. Step away periodically at noisy events, and remove earbuds or headphones every hour.
- Use hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs, especially for children. Consider musician's earplugs if your child plays an instrument, as they allow hearing while reducing noise.
To learn more about speech, language, and hearing disorders and how to support individuals affected by them, consider exploring the following resources: