Each May, we come together to celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (formerly known as Better Hearing and Speech Month)—a time to recognize the vital role communication plays in our lives and to raise awareness about hearing health. At Sertoma, this month resonates deeply with our core mission: to improve the quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss through education and community-based support.
Why Hearing Health Matters
Hearing is often something we take for granted—until it's gone. Nearly 50 million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss, yet many go undiagnosed and untreated. Left unaddressed, hearing loss can impact everything from academic performance and career opportunities to mental health and personal relationships.
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month gives us the opportunity to spotlight this often-overlooked public health issue, while reinforcing Sertoma’s commitment to making hearing health a priority in every community.
Our Mission in Action
For over a century, Sertoma has been a leader in hearing health advocacy, offering programs and partnerships that educate, empower, and support individuals and families affected by hearing loss. Here are just a few of the ways we’re making a difference:
1. SAFEEars!®: Our SAFEEars!® program teaches people of all ages how to protect their hearing in everyday situations. By distributing educational materials and sound level meters in schools, community centers, and public spaces, we are striving to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss before it starts.
2. Adopt-An-Agency/Affiliate Program: Through our Adopt-An-Agency program, Sertoma clubs partner with local hearing health organizations (Affiliates) to provide hands-on support through stewardship and volunteerism. These partnerships strengthen the safety net for those individuals living with communication disorders, ensuring more people have access to the essential services they need. Sertoma International also provides direct support to Affiliates through our Community Grant and Professional Education Grant programs.
3. Scholarships: Sertoma supports the next generation of hearing health professionals through its Communicative Disorders Scholarship, awarded to graduate students in audiology and speech-language pathology. By investing in these future leaders, we help drive continued innovation and compassionate care in the field. We’re also committed to empowering undergraduates with hearing loss through our Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship.
4. Hearing Aid Project: Our Hearing Aid Project provides refurbished hearing aids to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford them. It’s a sustainable, community-based approach that directly changes lives.
Join Us This May
During National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we invite you to be part of the conversation:
• Get your hearing checked. Encourage your loved ones to do the same.
• Educate your community. Share SAFEEars!® materials or partner with a local clinic to hold a free screening event.
• Collect hearing aids for HAP. We accept all models regardless of brand, age or condition!
• Support our mission. All donations made to the Sertoma Annual Fund are currently used directly to benefit our Community Grant and scholarship programs.
Let’s celebrate the power of communication—and commit to a world where everyone can hear and be heard