The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has joined with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) to raise awareness for May as “Better Hearing and Speech Month.”

ASHA has recognized May as Better Hearing and Speech Month since 1927. It is an ongoing effort to educate the public about available treatments to improve the quality of life of those living with speaking, understanding, or hearing problems.

In addition, ATA has declared May 13-19 as Tinnitus Awareness Week, an initiative to educate the public about tinnitus.

ASHA has a website available to professionals, advocates, and the public to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month. Also, check ATA’s website for Tinnitus Awareness Week 2012.

The NIDCD has created a new publication, Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders, which describes technologies that are available to help people with communication disorders to participate more fully in their daily lives.

Hearing professionals can also use NIDCD’s fact sheet about tinnitus to educate clients about the condition, how it’s diagnosed, and the available treatments.

Finally, for more science-based health information, clients can be directed to the NIDCD’s hearing, voice, speech, and language disorders online information, or clients can also call the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse at (800) 241-1044 or (800) 241-1055 (TTY) for a free copy of their available publications.

SOURCE: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)