How You Can Participate in Better Hearing and Speech Month

As you look ahead towards May, you might be looking forward to the longer days, better weather, and sweet sounds of spring. You can also look forward to checking in on your hearing and speech, because May is Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM).

For over 50 years, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has put on this month-long event to raise awareness for hearing and speech issues, and the actions you can take to preserve and improve your ability to communicate. This year's theme for BHSM is "Building a Strong Foundation." The ability to hear is a foundation for your communication with the world around you. Protecting your hearing and managing hearing loss is important to your overall health, and BHSM is a great reminder that you need to do just that.

Here's what you can do to protect your hearing this Better Hearing and Speech Month:

• Watch television and listen to music at lower volumes
• Avoid noisy places and activities
• Wear hearing protection when doing noisy activities like mowing the lawn or using power tools
• When loud noise is unavoidable, try to walk away or give yourself breaks
• Exercise regularly to have good circulation in your inner ears
• Don't stick foreign objects (like cotton swabs) in your ear
• Get your hearing tested by a qualified hearing healthcare provider

Participating in Better Hearing and Speech Month doesn't just mean thinking about your own hearing health. It also means checking in on your loved ones and spreading the word about hearing health. Hearing loss can be an isolating condition for many people, and it often comes with a stigma surrounding it. Many think it is only for old people, and don't want to admit their hearing loss for fear of being judged. Hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age. If you think someone you know is dealing with hearing loss, giving them your support may help encourage them to seek help. Treating hearing loss, often with the use of hearing aids, can help you avoid a lot of the associated stress, anxiety, and depression and can make a huge improvement to your quality of life.

Get ready for Better Hearing and Speech Month 2023 and prepare yourself to make hearing health a priority in your life.

Participate in Better Hearing and Speech Month 2023 by calling our office to set up an appointment today!