(Rockville, MD - April 23, 2013) The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is offering tips for educators to promote Better Hearing and Speech Month this May. More than half of ASHA members are audiologists or speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who work in schools to help students with communication disorders.
To highlight Better Hearing and Speech Month in schools, ASHA has compiled tips and resources available to elevate and address communication difficulties:
- Evaluate: Audiologists and SLPs are available to evaluate students’ hearing and speech-language skills and determine whether further testing is necessary.
- Tailor: Audiologists and SLPs help develop individualized education plans and goals for students with communication issues.
- Develop Curriculum: Audiologists and SLPs ensure that children can succeed in the school’s curriculum by helping to develop their language learning and social skills.
- Recognize: May is typically a month for recognizing staff. In light of Better Hearing and Speech Month, administrators are encouraged to acknowledge school-based audiologists and SLPs for their roles in enhancing language and learning.
- Elevate: Educators are asked to remind parents and caregivers that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month and encourage them to see the school audiologist or SLP for support in interacting with children who have communication disorders.
"ASHA members are key contributors in the collaborative teams that address student communication issues," ASHA President Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, CCC-SLP says. "Better Hearing and Speech Month is a fitting opportunity to recognize their contributions to language, hearing, and academic development and to encourage parents to take advantage of these vital school resources."
Educators are also encouraged to subscribe to the ASHA E-Newsletter Access Schools and visit the Listen to Your Buds webpages to keep up with the latest news on school-aged speech-language pathology and audiology all year round.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 166,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, speech, language, and hearing scientists, audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel, and students. 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. www.asha.org/
