Better Hearing and Speech Month 2009
Raise Your Hand
For over 75 years, May has been designated as Better Hearing and Speech Month. This month provides an opportunity to educate and inform others about the importance of good hearing, the social and emotional implications of hearing loss, and the available solutions for those who suffer from hearing loss. One of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today, hearing loss affects more than 31 million Americans — most of whom are below retirement age. Raise your hand to support hearing health and take action to spread the word about hearing loss in your community.1
Get Involved
Hearing Loss Facts
- 1 out of 10 Americans have a hearing loss - that's more than 31,000,000 people1
- 3 out of 1000 children are born with hearing loss - 1.4 million children have hearing loss in the United States1
- Children with hearing loss who are identified and receive early intervention prior to 6 months of age develop significantly better language ability than children identified after 6 months2
- 15% of "baby-boomers" ages 45-64 have hearing loss1
- 29% of people over age 65 have hearing loss1
- The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are below retirement age1
- It's estimated that 6.2 million people use hearing aids - per the Better Hearing Institute, 5-10% of people with hearing loss do not benefit from hearing aids, but could benefit from an alternative treatment such as an implantable hearing solution instead3,4
Take Action
Start a Conversation
- Ask others if they know that it is Better Hearing and Speech Month
- Start a conversation about the importance of hearing loss screening
- Share your hearing loss and Nucleus® cochlear implant or Baha® experience
- Share the benefits of advanced hearing loss technology with someone who is no longer benefiting from their hearing aid
Get Involved Online and in the Community
- Become a member of the Cochlear Community
- Join the Awareness in Action group on the Community to discover activities others are participating in and share your Better Hearing and Speech Month stories, photos and videos – check back to see if your story is shared on the Community home page!
- Share your hearing loss experience with others via forums, email, Facebook, MySpace, etc.
Attend Local Events
- Find out if there is an opportunity to get involved in local organizations in your area (for example, HLAA or AG Bell Chapters)
- Participate in a local event such as a community walk for hearing loss
- Share your hearing loss experience at a local school, place of worship or business
For more information...
Sound and WAY Beyond
An interactive listening rehabilitation program for adults and teens.
American Speech Language Hearing Association's web site.
Many good resources and tools.
Better Hearing Institute
Many useful hearing resources including audiograms and a quick hearing check.
Hearing Loss Association of America
Excellent resource for hearing loss information.
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The AG Bell web site has a wealth of hearing loss information.
Additionally, we have attached a calendar of activities for Better Hearing and Speech Month. Each day, there is an opportunity to take action to spread the word about hearing loss. Please join us by getting involved in your community and sharing your hearing loss experience!
"Even a very slight hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life," said Dr. Jerry Punch of the Department of Communicative Sciences & Disorders, and the Oyer Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Michigan State University. "Hearing loss is treatable, and there is no reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life."
1Better Hearing Institute http://www.betterhearing.org/research/factoids.cfm
2Alexander Graham Bell Association of America http://agbell.org/docs/FAHL.pdf
3Better Hearing Institute http://www.betterhearing.org/pdfs/MarkeTrak7_Kochkin_July05.pdf
4Better Hearing Institute http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_solutions/medicalAdvances.cfm
