Understanding the Journey: Stages of Hearing Loss and Why Speech, Language, and Hearing Month Matters
May 23, 2024
Every year, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association highlights National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. Formerly known as Better Hearing and Speech Month, the committee decided to change the name to promote greater inclusivity. National Speech-Language-Hearing Month aims to raise awareness of hearing and speech conditions. This May is all about educating the general public on the importance of human communication and what we can all do to prevent communication disorders and raise awareness about them.
Hearing loss affects millions of people of various ages. When neglected or left untreated, it disrupts not only your ability to hear, but also to communicate and recognize speech effectively. While hearing loss may seem minor at first, it can negatively impact quality of life over time, leading to many difficulties.
What you can do during the month of May
- Educate yourself: By increasing your knowledge of hearing loss, you can better prepare if you or a loved one goes through this experience. The symptoms, causes, and treatments of hearing loss can vary from person to person, but knowing the basics will help.
- Protect your hearing: Protecting your hearing should be a priority. One step you can take is limiting your exposure to noise above 85 decibels. You can do this by avoiding loud facilities, lowering volume levels when watching television and listening to music, and wearing hearing protection when you cannot avoid loud noises.
- Visit a hearing specialist: Visiting a qualified hearing care provider is one of the best ways to participate in National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. The specialist will evaluate your hearing and establish a baseline to compare against future tests to determine if you are already experiencing hearing loss that can be managed with hearing aids.
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month is an ideal opportunity to start reflecting on the importance of hearing and communication in your life and how you can best protect them. It is also a wonderful reminder to connect with loved ones experiencing hearing loss. Show them support on their journey and help them feel less of the isolation that often accompanies hearing
loss.
Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.
