2025 National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
Around five percent of the world’s population experience hearing loss. While five percent of the population is also thought to experience problems with speech.
With communication being so important to our lives, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month sets out to raise awareness of issues surrounding communication problems such as an inability to hear properly or to speak effectively.
National Speech-Language and Hearing Month History
This annual occurrence first began in 1927 when ASHA created an idea of National Hearing Week. This was later changed to Better Hearing Month in 1958 and ultimately shifted to the more commonly known title of Better Hearing and Speech Month in 1972.
The aim of Better Speech and Language Month is to raise awareness around both speech and hearing problems while encouraging people to take a look at their own speech and hearing and to make a change in there is a problem.
For over nine decades, this month has been held, making people think about their hearing and speech.
In 2024, Better Speech and Language Month was renamed to National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.
How to Recognize Problems with Your Hearing
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month calls on everybody to take stock of their own ability to hear and speak effectively.
Signs that you have a problem with your hearing include:
- Having to ask people to repeat themselves
- Needing to turn your ear towards a sound to hear it
- Only being able to understand a conversation when you look directly towards a person
- Being unable to hear everything in a group conversation
- Listening to the TV at a high volume
- Experiencing a ringing in your ears or a pain
If any of the signs or symptoms of hearing loss are present, then a person should visit an audiologist for a hearing test. In many cases, hearing problems are treatable.
As well as checking to see whether you or anyone that you are close to has any of the signs of hearing or speech problems, you can also help out the cause by spreading the word about better hearing and speech.
