Celebrate hearing health with us in May!

Dr. Battani with a patient at Associated Audiologists in Shawnee Mission, KS

The month of May is full of special observances: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, and end-of-school celebrations. For Associated Audiologists, Inc., it’s also the month that we’re recognizing the 40th anniversary of our practice!

We’ll have more news and updates for you on the anniversary celebrations throughout the month, but in the meantime, here’s one more special recognition to add — National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

During May, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) works to raise awareness about various communication differences and how professionals like audiologists and speech-language pathologists impact the lives of those affected by hearing and communication issues.

Hearing your best for life

At Associated Audiologists, “Hearing your best for life” is more than just our motto. It’s one of the ways we recognize that hearing health is important at all stages of life and has far-reaching impacts on a person’s well-being.

Hearing and speech differences affect people of all ages, from the tiniest newborn to great-grandparents and everyone in between. While hearing checks and speech therapy interventions are fairly common in babies and young children, as people reach their teen years and beyond, it’s important to continue paying attention to your hearing health and any related language or speech concerns.

Let’s take a look at how hearing and speech difficulties may impact you throughout your life and how to be proactive in caring for your hearing health.

Babies and toddlers

Nearly all babies born in the U.S. receive a simple, painless newborn hearing screening at the hospital before they go home. This helps parents know if their baby needs any additional testing or support for their hearing and language development.

Watch for any of the signs of hearing loss in infants and toddlers and talk with your child’s pediatrician or an audiologist if you have any concerns.

School-aged children

Sometimes, the school environment will uncover problems with hearing and speech that may not have been obvious before. The good news is that most schools have resources available to guide and support families of children with hearing loss or speech disorders.

Keep an eye out for signs of hearing loss in children and see an audiologist if you have any concerns.

Teens and young adults

The rising popularity of headphones, earbuds and air pods might make it seem like teens are never listening to you! But headphones, especially when used at high volumes, can cause long-term hearing loss.

Parents and caregivers can encourage teens to:

  1. Turn the volume down. Experts recommend 50% or less, especially when using headphones or earbuds.
  2. Use the noise-cancelling feature. This can reduce the need to increase the volume to drown out noise from the room.
  3. Take listening breaks. Give your ears a rest for a few minutes at least once an hour.
  4. Pay attention to your body. If you have ringing or pain in your ears, see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.
  5. Be aware of your overall noise dosage. Schools, sports stadiums, music groups, parties and video games can all contribute to your daily noise intake. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones in especially loud environments.1

Middle-aged and older adults

It’s no surprise that hearing loss becomes more common as we get older. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that 15% of adults in the U.S. have hearing loss — that’s twice as common as diabetes or cancer.2

For older adults, the number goes up significantly: Half of all people 75 and older have hearing loss.3

The symptoms of hearing loss can significantly impact your life and relationships, so don’t hesitate to reach out to an audiologist for an evaluation. Together, we can help you hear your best at every stage of life.

Schedule an appointment with one of our doctoral-level audiologists today! Call (855) 547-8745 or request an appointment online.

 

References:

  1. 5 Hearing Protection Tips for Video Gamers. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2024.
    https://www.asha.org/siteassets/press-room/whd/2025/video-gamer-hearing-protection-tips.jpg
  2. Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance & Dizziness. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
    https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
  3. Hearing loss: A common condition. Healthy Hearing.
    https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-loss