With an estimated 2.5 million school-aged children in the United States having mild or unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss in one ear), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has made hearing screening of public school students the focus of its latest podcast.
Without the proper identification and treatment that can result from screenings, more than one-third of school-aged children with mild or unilateral hearing loss are projected to fail at least one grade in school. Moreover, the ASHA podcast reports that a child with mild hearing loss can miss as much as 50% of what goes on in a classroom.
It also notes that although they are very important, hearing screenings of school-aged children vary nationally in standards, quality, and availability. Recently, such screenings were suspended altogether in New York City, a decision that ASHA is advocating to reverse.
The podcast features Pam Mason, an audiologist and ASHA’s Director of Audiology Professional Practices; ASHA member Laurie Hanin, PhD, who is the Executive Director of the Center for Hearing and Communication in New York City; and Jim Potter, ASHA’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy.
The newest ASHA podcast also gives parents helpful tips for monitoring the hearing of their children and for advocating for routine school hearing screening programs. Consumers are invited to call (800) 638-8255 and to visit takeaction.asha.org to find out more about this critical care and what they can do to see that hearing screenings are provided.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 135,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.