Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month this May with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and your friendly Speech & Language Department!
Since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month each May to raise public awareness of speech and language disorders. Approximately 43,000,000 people in the United States have communication disorders. This means they have problems with speech, voice, language, and/or hearing.
Speech and language disorders can take many forms and can limit academic achievement, social adjustment, and career advancement. A person may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.
Speech-Language Pathologists are the professionals who treat all types of speech, language, and related disorders. They hold at least a master's degree and are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In Massachusetts, they also are licensed by the state. Speech Language Pathologists can teach people with speech and language problems strategies to help them improve their skills.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for more than 186,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Visit http://www.asha.org for more information.
Please visit my "Resources" section for the following documents about Speech and Language Disorders:
- How Speech Skills Can Affect Academic Performance
- Type of Disorder Table
- Service Delivery Options
- Typical Speech Development Chart
- Age & Language and Speech Behaviors List
- Speech and Language Checklist
Did you know?
• Language disorders include having a limited vocabulary, using grammar or syntax incorrectly, and having difficulty understanding language.
• Speech disorders include not being able to say a sound correctly (e.g., “sip” for “ship”), stuttering, and voice problems (e.g., hoarseness or too high pitch).
• Hearing loss includes physical issues with the ear canal, middle ear, inner ear, or auditory nerve.
• Males are more likely to have speech, language, and/or hearing disorders than females.
• 10 percent of children have moderate to severe communication impairments.
• By first grade, about 5 percent of children have speech disorders.
• Children with speech or language impairments are four to five times more likely than their peers to have other learning disabilities including significant reading problems.
• Autism affects approximately 400,000 individuals in the United States.
Adapted from http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/164%20May%20is%20Better.pdf