Better Speech and Hearing Month
It’s finally May! Do you know what that means?! It’s Better Speech and Hearing Month!! This month-long event is sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The sole purpose of this month is to spread awareness about communication disorders. Here at AID-L, we strive to promote better speech and hearing, every day of the year!
May is not only Better Speech and Hearing month, but Pediatric Feeding Disorders Awareness month, as well! Pediatric feeding disorders affect millions of children, worldwide. This is when a child only eats a limited amount of food, therefore causing a decline in their health. A child that suffers from a pediatric feeding disorder can have significant weight loss and nutritional deficiency, which is why it is important to promote awareness and advocacy on this topic!
Facts:
This is the 50th anniversary since the initiation of the Better Speech and Hearing Month
Over 46 million people in the Unites States, alone, stuffer from a communication disorder
stuttering affects 5%-10% of children in the U.S.
Nearly 5% of the entire world’s population has some form of hearing loss
About 13%-18% of teens report having noise-induced hearing loss
How you can observe this month:
Spread Awareness
This can be done in any shape or from. It may be as simple as spreading the word about Better Speech and Hearing Month!
Share you own person experiences with your community
Prevent hearing loss
Try to listen to music, shows, etc. at a low volume to prevent damaging your ear drums
Use ear plugs to decrease the volume of very loud noises, music, or machines
Check out Clemson University’s news article on music for the deaf ● https://news.clemson.edu/music-for-the-deaf-is-not-a-contradiction
Clemson faculty member, Jody Cripps is leading the movement in creating “signed music,” which allows deaf people to experience music through American Sign Language (ASL)
Tips to Help Your Child:
Speech:
Communication is key, so use hand/visual support to relay your messages
Slower you rate of speech so it is easier to comprehend
Accentuate your words so that your child can read your lips
Practice future scenarios with them to help them prepare, such as ordering a meal at school or a restaurant
Hearing:
Hearing aids are useful for all ages; however, a very limited amount of people use them. Investing in a pair may prove invaluable
Decrease background noise to enhance attention span
Avoid going to concerts or places with extreme noise to prevent damage to your ear drums
Feeding:
Make your child feel comfortable eating around other by having family meals
Consistency can help your child form habits, so try to eat each meal around the same time each day
Expand their taste palette by gradually exposing them to new foods
