5/20/2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - May has been celebrated as National Better Hearing and Speech Month since 1927, and speech-language pathologists and audiologists at Michigan State University appreciate this spotlight on the work they do year-round to prevent, identify and treat many forms of communication impairment.
The goal of National Better Hearing and Speech Month is to raise public awareness of speech, language and hearing disorders that affect millions of Americans. Some facts are:
- Speech and language disorders take many forms; they can be congenital or caused by injury or illness at any age.
- Approximately 10 percent of children entering the first grade have moderate to severe communication impairments, including stuttering.
- Children with speech and language impairments are four to five times more likely than their peers to experience other language-learning disabilities, including significant reading problems, which can limit academic achievement, social adjustment and career advancement.
"Fortunately, most people with speech and language problems can be helped," said Professor Michael W. Casby of MSU's Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences and Oyer Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. "Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach clients strategies to help them cope.
"While people may not fully regain their capacity to speak and understand," Casby said, "a speech-language pathologist can help them live more independently."
Likewise, help is available to the 28 million Americans who suffer some degree of hearing loss. Symptoms include:
- frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
- often turning an ear toward a sound to hear it better.
- understanding people better when wearing glasses or looking directly at their faces.
- losing track in group conversations.
- keeping the volume on the radio or television at a level others say is too loud.
- pain or ringing in the ears.
"People who see themselves in these statements should see an audiologist for a hearing test," said Jerry Punch, MSU professor of audiology and speech sciences, noting that even a slight hearing impairment can affect a person's daily life.
"Hearing loss is treatable," Punch said, "and there is no reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life."
Punch recommends an annual hearing checkup for people age 45 and older. Audiologists - professionals who treat hearing disorders - can prescribe hearing aids and assistive listening devices, and they can teach people with hearing loss how to concentrate on hearing all sounds.
Clinical services are available through the Oyer Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic on the MSU campus. Call (517) 353-8780.
The MSU Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs of study for those interested in the profession. Call (517) 353-8788.