New Year, New Name: What to Know About Better Speech and Hearing Month’s New Name

The National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (NAHSA) has announced a significant shift for its annual May event. From 2024 on, Better Speech and Hearing Month will be known as “National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. This change aims to eliminate the word “better,” which could inadvertently pass judgment on those living with hearing loss or communication disorders.

This change in terminology does not change the core mission of the event. The primary goals remain to educate the public about communication disorders, promote preventive measures and highlight available treatments.

Why It’s Important

Understanding the magnitude of the issue is crucial. Approximately 430 million individuals globally have disabling hearing loss. This figure is part of the larger 1.5 billion people worldwide who experience some form of hearing impairment. Within the United States, an estimated 15% of adults have reported

having some degree of hearing difficulty.

These figures are expected to rise. By 2050, projections suggest that over 700 million people could be dealing with disabling hearing loss. The increasing prevalence of noise exposure-related hearing loss led the World Health Organization to establish new standards for safe listening levels in 2022. Other factors, such as the surge in speech delays among children post-pandemic and the ongoing risk of hearing loss in the aging population, underscore the importance of this awareness month.

Each year, NAHSA runs digital campaigns and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to disseminate information through web-based platforms and downloadable bilingual resources, aiming to reach and engage millions of individuals. As the only organization solely dedicated to public education about communication health, NAHSA serves as the consumer affiliate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Community involvement is encouraged during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. To get involved, consider reaching out to local community centers, like the West Hampton Community Center, for information about local events or organizations.

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about your hearing health or scheduling a hearing test, please contact North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab to arrange an appointment.