FUSD - Better Hearing and Speech Month

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month each May. This month of awareness is a good time to analyze your own hearing and determine if you are one of the estimated 28 million Americans who have a hearing loss that can be treated. You may have a hearing loss if you:

* frequently ask people to repeat themselves
* often turn your ear toward a sound to hear it better
* understand people better when you wear your glasses or look directly at their faces
* lose your place in group conversations
* keep the volume on your radio or TV at a level that others say is too loud
* have pain or ringing in your ears

If you see yourself in these statements, you should see an audiologist for a hearing test. Even a very slight hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life. Hearing loss is treatable, and there is no reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life.

An annual hearing checkup is a good idea for people age 45 and up, according to audiologists, the professionals who specialize in preventing, identifying, assessing, and treating hearing disorders.

Click here to view a video about hearing loss by the Better Hearing Institute.

Did You Know:

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that approximately 42,000,000 people in the United States suffer from a speech, voice, language, or hearing impairment?
Nearly 28,000,000 people suffer from a hearing loss, however, less than 7,000,000 actually use a hearing aid?
Approximately 10 percent of children entering first grade have moderate to severe communication impairments, including difficulties with speech production, stuttering, and language learning?
Children with speech and language impairments are 4 to 5 times more likely than their peers to experience other language-learning disabilities (i.e., significant reading problems).
Speech and language disorders are very diverse and can present in the forms of articulation, receptive and expressive language, voice, stuttering, aphasia, oral motor, and social/pragmatic problems?
Speech and language disorders can be learning based, acquired, or the result of accidental injury or illness at any age?
Speech and language disorders can limit academic achievement, social development, and career advancement?

Speech-Language Pathologists are professionals who help children, adolescents, and adults develop their communication abilities as well as treat speech, language, stuttering, swallowing and voice disorders. They work in many different types of facilities such as: public schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, private practice, rehabilitation centers, state and local health departments, and nursing care facilities. Speech-Language pathologists hold a master’s degree and are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Audiologists are the professionals that test hearing, prescribe hearing aids and assistive listening devices, and teach people with hearing loss how to make sense of the sounds they hear. They also hold a master’s degree and are certified by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Speech-language pathologists and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teachers (who work in conjunction with Audiologists) are available at each of our schools within the Fontana Unified School District to address the various needs of each individual student.

How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?

Every child is unique in and has an individual rate of development. This chart represents, on the average, the age by which most children will accomplish the listed skills. Just because your child has not accomplished one skill within an age range does not mean the child has a disorder. If you answer no to the majority of items in an age range, seek the advice of a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Hearing and Understanding	Talking
Birth-3 Months Startles to loud sounds. Quiets or smiles when spoken to. Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying. Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound.	Birth-3 Months Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing). Cries differently for different needs. Smiles when sees you.

4-6 Months

Moves eyes in direction of sounds.
Responds to changes in tone of your voice.
Notices toys that make sounds.
Pays attention to music.

4-6 Months

Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds, including p, b and m.
Vocalizes excitement and displeasure.
Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you.

7 Months-1 Year

Enjoys games like peek-o-boo and pat-a-cake.
Turns and looks in direction of sounds.
Listens when spoken to.
Recognizes words for common items like "cup", "shoe," "juice."
Begins to respond to requests ("Come here," "Want more?").

7 Months-1 Year

Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata upup bibibibi."
Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep attention.
Imitates different speech sounds.
Has 1 or 2 words (bye-bye, dada, mama) although they may not be clear.

1-2 Years

Points to a few body parts when asked.
Follows simple commands and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby," "Where's your shoe?").
Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
Points to pictures in a book when named.

1-2 Years

Says more words every month.
Uses some 1-2 word questions ("Where kitty?" "Go bye-bye?" "What's that?").
Puts 2 words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book").
Uses many different consonant sounds of the beginning of words.

2-3 Years

Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop," "in-on," "big-little," "up-down").
Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table.").

2-3 Years

Has a word for almost everything.
Uses 2-3-word "sentences" to talk about and ask for things.
Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time.
Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them.

3-4 Years

Hears you when call from another room.
Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as other family members.
Understands simple, "who?," "what?," "where?," "why?" questions.

3-4 Years

Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes.
People outside family usually understand child's speech.
Uses a lot of sentences that have 4 or more words.
Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words.

4-5 Years

Pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions about it.
Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school.

4-5 years

Voice sounds clear like other children's.
Uses sentences that give lots of details (e.g. "I like to read my books").
Tells stories that stick to topic.
Communicates easily with other children and adults.
Says most sounds correctly except a few like l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th.
Uses the same grammar as the rest of the family. If you answered no to the majority of items in an age range, seek the advice of a Speech Language Pathologist.

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