Spring has a lot of upsides, from the warmer weather and the blooming flowers in Hulen Park to Mother’s Day and, popular in audiology circles, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. If you’ve never participated in the month before, take a look at three ways we recommend you celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month this May.
Learn About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects an estimated 13% of people in the U.S. over the age of 12.[1] Even though hearing loss is common, many people don’t know how to spot it or what their options are to manage it. They say knowledge is power, and we agree. Take some time to look through our blogs and service pages to learn a little bit about hearing loss. When you have the information you need, you can not only spot the signs of hearing loss in yourself, but you can also keep an eye out for them in your loved ones.
Share Your Information
There’s a lot of power in raising awareness. After learning about hearing loss—its causes, signs and treatments—share what you know with your loved ones and acquaintances. You can send emails, share our posts on social media or just chat with people face-to-face.
Encourage Others To Seek Care
Many people struggle to take the leap into hearing loss treatment. In fact, one study found that people lived with their symptoms for an average of ten years[2] before being referred to an audiologist—that’s a long time to live without the benefits of hearing aids. In addition to seeking care for yourself, encourage the people in your life to schedule regular hearing tests and start treatment if their tests reveal hearing damage.
Learning about hearing loss, sharing what you know and encouraging others to seek care is the perfect way to celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. For more information or to schedule your hearing test, call Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic today.
[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024). Quick statistics about hearing. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
[2] National Guideline Centre (UK). (2018, June). Hearing loss in adults: Assessment and management (NICE Guideline No. 98). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536548/