Better Hearing and Speech

Articles

May 1

During the month of May, we have the opportunity to promote better hearing and speech. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) joins other organizations in observation of Better Hearing and Speech Month. It is rather common for individuals to experience issues related to communication, with at a minimum of 46 million people affected in the United States alone. For adults, it is important that hearing issues are addressed as soon as possible to avoid further injury or problems communicating. Treatment and therapeutic intervention for hearing loss and issues communicating are available and can be life-changing.

The Importance of Clear Communication

To engage in our lives, from the work we do to the people we interact with regularly like family and friends, clear communication is necessary. When an individual is unable to effectively communicate clearly, it can have a negative impact throughout all areas of their life. Safety is a consideration as well. In order to remain safe while working in some environments, clear hearing is necessary. Particularly during the past year, effective communication skills through technology have been critical to the success of many individuals. Beyond that, masks and distancing present unique challenges for those who have hearing or speech problems.

Types of Hearing and Speech Disorders

As we age, it is common for individuals to experience changes in their ability to hear or speak. Elderly individuals have an increased risk for injury due to a fall and should always ensure their own safety by seeking assistance to hear properly. For others, hearing and speech problems can occur due to exposure to noise or injury.

Tinnitus

Characterized by a persistent sound in the ears such as ringing, hissing, or buzzing, tinnitus typically affects individuals who work in loud environments. It commonly afflicts those who work in factories, in construction, or in the music industry. Extended periods of time in environments with high volume noise can cause damage to the inner ear.

Voice Impairment

Your voice is very important for clear communication. It is common for individuals who work in positions which require a lot of speaking to be most affected by voice problems. Resting your voice is necessary to maintain vocal health.

Speech Impairment

Apraxia and dysarthria are conditions which affect an individual’s ability to speak. Apraxia affects your speech neurologically, which is often caused by a stroke or brain injury. Dysarthria relates to facial or vocal muscles. Degeneration of these muscles affects an individual’s ability to move their lips, tongue, or diaphragm which can make it difficult to communicate effectively. Dysarthria can be a side effect of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy.

Aphasia

Sometimes individuals acquire communication disorders due to injury to the brain. Aphasia affects an individual’s ability to communicate verbally or through writing. Typically, aphasia occurs following a brain injury such as stroke. Most cases are reported in older adults.

Conductive Hearing Loss

When sound travels through your ear, it moves from the outer ear, through the middle, to the inner ear. Low volume or soft noise can be hard to hear for someone with conductive hearing loss. The sound cannot travel through the ear and therefore is not heard. Causes typically relate to obstruction due to earwax, fluid, an object, or tumor. Ear infection can also lead to conductive hearing loss.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Injury to the inner ear can be caused by things like head injury, listening to extremely loud noises, or taking chemotherapy drugs or such drugs as aspirin or quinine. Family history is another factor in causation of sensorineural hearing loss, as developmental issues could affect the formation of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of permanent hearing loss, but can be managed with the use hearing aids.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Some individuals may experience hearing loss in more than one way. Mixed hearing loss occurs when both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss occur. For example, an individual may have an obstruction in their ear or work in a noisy environment in addition to a family history of hearing loss.

Preventing Hearing Loss

Whether you are certain you are experiencing hearing loss or suspect it may be happening to you, there are ways you can address the problem. A smart first step is to visit your healthcare professional and ask about hearing tests with an audiologist. Certified audiologists can test your hearing in a variety of ways and conclude your current level of hearing. Based on their findings, they may recommend the use of assistive technology such as a hearing aid, help you rehabilitate your hearing through the use of protective accessories, or suggest the use of other assistive equipment.

One important aspect in preventing hearing loss is understanding how it occurs. If you are mindful about your environment, whether during work or participating in leisure activities, you may be able to prevent hearing loss by using noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs more often. If you are recommended to use assistive equipment like a hearing aid, it is important to remember that similar to a vision prescription, it takes some adjustment before it works as intended.

Working with a Speech-Language Pathologist

In many cases, hearing loss or speech disorders are permanent. However, speech-language pathologists work with individuals to help them rehabilitate their communication skills or cope with existing conditions. They may help by recommending or evaluating the effectiveness of hearing aids in addition to providing therapy to strengthen muscles associated with speech.

The team at Tilton’s Therapy includes exceptional, experienced speech-language pathologists who work with clients throughout the lifespan. If you or someone you love is experiencing changes to their quality of life due to difficulty communicating, take the first step and talk to your healthcare professionals about engaging in speech therapy.