Originally posted to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Headlines e-mail list on October 4, 2005.
(Rockville, MD - October 4, 2005) In an effort to raise awareness about the effects and prevalence of hearing loss and other communication disorders, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provided free hearing screenings at a Senate Health Fair on Capitol Hill on September 29-30, 2005 that attracted more than 1,000 Senators, staff and Senate employees.
Hearing loss, which affects nearly 28 million Americans, is caused largely by prolonged exposure to hazardous noise levels. At this health fair, ASHA-certified audiologists provided hearing screenings more than 100 people. Roughly 20% of those screened were referred for further testing to local audiologists using ProSearch - ASHA's free online directory of certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists www.asha.org/proserv
In addition to the hearing screening, ASHA counseled health fair attendees and provided them with detailed information about how to protect their hearing and what they should do if they suspect they or someone they know has a hearing loss. In the process, ASHA audiologists covered a range of topics including tinnitus, otitis media, how to keep your ears clean, and hearing conservation practices.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 120,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
For More Information: Greg Weimann, 301-897-0152, gweimann@asha.org
Reprinted by permission of the American Speech-Lanuage-Hearing Association.
