“Communication for Life” is the theme of this year’s “Better Hearing and Speech Month,” which runs throughout May.

The Houston Speech and Hearing Clinic at the University of Houston will mark the occasion by hosting an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. May 6 at the Clinical Research and Services Building.

The open house will offer the UH and Houston communities a chance to become familiar with the clinic’s services, which include hearing evaluations and treatment for children and adults on a sliding fee scale at various on- and off-campus sites.

“Damage to the ear can be gradual,” said Donna Scott, clinic director. “Hearing screenings are important, especially for adults, because loud noises over a long period of time can cause hearing loss.”

Appointments for free hearing screenings throughout May can be made during the open house or by calling (713) 743-2898.

Communication problems and language disorders statistics:

• 28 million people in the United States suffer from hearing loss
• 14 million people in the nation have a speech and/or language disorder
• Hearing loss is the most common congenital disorder
• 10 percent of children entering first grade have a moderate to severe speech disorder, such as stuttering
• Approximately one million Americans have aphasia, a language disorder inhibiting verbal communication that results from damage caused by a stroke or other traumatic injury to the language centers of the brain.

Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Web site

Brian Campbell
bacampbe@central.uh.edu