In 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) designated the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. Their goal at the time was to raise awareness about speech and hearing challenges and — more importantly — encourage people to take action and treat their own hearing and speech problems.
That mission is just as important today as it was then. Maybe more so. One reason why? Because if the past two years have taught us anything, it’s how important communication and connectivity are and that we can now see we should never take either for granted ever again.
Another? We know way more about hearing loss in 2022 than we did in 1927.
We know, for instance, that untreated hearing loss is linked to a laundry list of physical and mental wellbeing issues, including decreased cognitive function, higher incidences of hospitalizations, depression and falls, and increased risk of social isolation and dementia.
We know the pricelessness of connecting with family and friends, listening to music and nature, and not feeling left out of activities, events and conversations.
We know that people who treat their hearing loss overwhelmingly say they are happy that they did something about this easily treatable issue.
Finally, we know that today’s hearing technology is leaps and bounds better than it was even just a few years ago — and that the best hearing aids can make hearing and connecting effortless again.
Hear better, live better starting this month
While it shouldn’t require a special month to get us to pay attention to the importance of hearing health, the fact that there is a dedicated month — and has been one every May for nearly a century — should be reminder enough that we need to take our hearing seriously.
If hearing loss has been preventing you from enjoying life as much as you could and you’re looking for the right time to do something about it, Better Hearing Month is tailor made!
You can start by meeting with a local hearing professional, who can test your hearing, measure your hearing loss precisely, and consult with you about your options. Just type your zip code in here and you’ll a generate a list of nearby hearing healthcare professionals or audiologists who you can reach out to for help.
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