Did you know?

• 28 million people in the U.S. suffer from hearing loss
• 16 million people in the U.S. have a speech and/or language disorder
• Hearing loss is the most common congenital disorder in newborns
• Ten percent of children entering the first grade have a moderate to severe speech disorder, including stuttering
• Approximately 1 million people in the U.S. have aphasia, a language disorder inhibiting spoken communication that results from damage caused by a stroke or other traumatic injury to the language centers of the brain
• 42 million people in the U.S. suffer from a speech, voice, language, or hearing impairment

Since 1927, May has been the month when audiologists and speech-language pathologists observe, celebrate, and raise awareness of the professions and the value of their services from the classroom to Congress.

This annual observance is when attention is focused on the needs of the millions of individuals from infants to the elderly who suffer from communication disorders.

For the last 75 years, May has also been a time to raise awareness regarding speech, voice, language, and hearing impairments among Federal, State, and local governments.

• 41 states have implemented routine hearing screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves the hospital
• Congress supports the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month

Audiologists are hearing health care professionals who specialize in preventing, identifying and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.

ASHA is the national, professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 110,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.

For more information about speech, language and hearing, call ASHA's Action Center at 1-800-638-TALK (8255) or visit ASHA's website at www.asha.org .