Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month – May 2025

Speech and Hearing Awareness is observed in May every year. It’s a month dedicated to raising awareness for communication disorders, helping patients overcome any type of hearing and speech illness, as well as celebrating the contributions of professionals in the speech-language-hearing industry. From speech-language pathologists, audiologists, hearing scientists, and other support personnel, we pay them respect for the help they have given, which includes assisting their patients and providing life-altering treatments. This awareness month supports S.L.P. patients and the efforts to eradicate the stigma attached to communication disorders. Learn more about the ways you can support and celebrate the cause this May.

History of Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

If you have seen the Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech” in which King George VI overcomes his stuttering, you probably know that speech impairment and communication disorders have long existed despite the newness of its medical field. The history of all speech-hearing illnesses goes farther than even George VI’s time. It was over 2,000 years ago when Hippocrates, a Greek physician, first observed the symptoms of stuttering and aphasia. Around the same time, historians credit Satyrus as the first to combat speech impairments through diction lessons where he instructed his students to exercise breathing control, voice production, and articulation. Moreover, Aurelius Cornelius Celsus was the first to emphasize that the tongue is the origin of speech illnesses, advocating for gargling and eating pungent food as remedies for faulty articulation and other speech disturbances.

It was in the Middle Ages when language disorder was considered a separate entity from other forms of illness. In 1305, Bernard de Gordon wrote the book “Lily of Medicine” in which he described people with speech impairments as those who have difficulty expressing a concept. The progression and advancement of language disorder studies didn’t happen until the 1700s when doctors Johann Gesner in Germany and Alexander Crichton in Scotland documented different types of aphasia, which included the aftermath of a stroke or head injuries.

However, the official modern study of speech and language pathology began in the early 20th century. In 1926, the American Academy of Speech Correction was founded, and speech therapy became widespread over the next 20 years. In the late 1960s, a specific distinction between speech disorders and language disorders was acknowledged and applied to the field. Between 1975 to 2000, the Pragmatics Revolution took place, which included the development of conversations, social interaction, event participation, and other communicative tools, to clinically help patients. This movement has been a vital part of the speech and language treatment that we know today.

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month timeline

1900s
Formative Years of Speech Pathology

Global interest in speech treatment begins with the opening of schools dedicated to speech pathology.

1945 — 1965
The Processing Period

Professionals attempt to improve and develop internal psychological processing as a remedy for speech impairments.

1965 — 1975
The Linguistics Era

Professionals begin to separate speech disorders from language disorders.

1975 — 2000
The Pragmatics Revolution

Professionals begin to reframe their treatment by creating a more holistic approach, which includes social interaction, cultural participation, and other day-to-day activities.

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month FAQs

Who is the founder of speech and language pathology?

The official founder of speech and language pathology is Robert West. He was heavily involved in the development of the first S.L.P. doctoral program in Wisconsin.

What causes hearing disorders?

Many factors cause hearing disorders. These include constant exposure to loud music or noise, earwax buildup, or genetics.

What is the main cause of stuttering?

Stuttering is caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, environment, anxiety, language development, and brain structure.

How to Observe Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

  1. Schedule a hearing exam

    It’s important to know that having your hearing tested annually is just as important as eye or teeth check-ups. Not only will this rule out any potential impairments, but it will also normalize the importance of routine screening for ear health.

  2. Attend seminars and symposiums

    Attend seminars and symposiums about speech, hearing, or language disorders. Knowing the facts about these illnesses can help you and others to raise awareness and correct any misinformation about these diseases.

  3. Educate your colleagues

    Another way to raise awareness, eradicate the stigma, and correct misunderstood ideas about speech and hearing disorders is to educate your colleagues. Arrange a meeting or organize an event dedicated to Speech and Hearing Awareness Month and spearhead the fact-dissemination about these disorders.

5 Interesting Facts About Hearing And Speech

  1. The risk of audio devices

    50% of people aged 12 to 35, who constantly use audio hearing devices, are at risk of damaging their hearing.

  2. The golden rule with earphones

    According to WHO, keeping the volume down to 60% when listening to music via earphones helps to avoid damage to the eardrums.

  3. Hearing loss has no known treatment

    There is no known treatment to completely cure hearing loss.

  4. Stuttering is more common than you think

    According to consensus, around three million Americans stutter or have stuttered.

  5. It’s common among children

    Communication disorders are some of the most common disabilities in children.

Why Speech and Hearing Awareness Month is Important

  1. We support anti-bullying causes

    More often than not, people with speech or hearing impairments are shamed or bullied at certain points in their lives. Speech and Hearing Awareness Month helps normalize these conditions by helping people to realize that these diseases are more common than they think. Eradicating the stigma is a step to combat the bullying and shaming of people who suffer from these disorders.

  2. It spreads facts and combats misinformation

    Unfortunately, we live in an era of fake news and misinformation. It is important to spread facts regarding speech, hearing, and language disorders, to separate the true risk factors from the myths.

  3. We support continuous research

    Just like any other field of science, speech pathology and other hearing and language studies are areas of continuous development. Raising awareness of these illnesses helps in the further advancement of research and studies, something that the next generation could benefit from.

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2025 May 1 Thursday
2026 May 1 Friday
2027 May 1 Saturday
2028 May 1 Monday
2029 May 1 Tuesday
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
Hurricane Preparedness Week
National Physical Education and Sport Week
Agriculture and Labor Day
Beltane
Blessing Day
Calan Mai
Couple Appreciation Day
CSS Reboot Day
Executive Coaching Day
Frequent Flyer Day
Global Love Day
International Doodle Dog Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Labor Day Philippines
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
Lei Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
May Day
Mother Goose Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National Day of Prayer
National-Day-of-Reason
National Day of Reason
National Infertility Survival Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mantra Day
National Purebred Dog Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
New Homeowners Day
Phone in Sick Day
Save The Rhino Day
School Principals' Day
Silver Star Banner Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
World Password Day
Worthy Wage Day
ALS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Anxiety Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Bealtaine Festival
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Action Month
Correct Posture Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Date Your Mate Month
Deck Safety Month
EDS Awareness Month
Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Indian Heritage Month
Internal Audit Awareness Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
International Civility Awareness Month
International Drum Month
International Respect for Chickens Month
International Victorious Woman Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Labor History Month
Latino Books Month
Leaders of Tomorrow Month
Lettuce Month
Local and Community History Month
Lung Health Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
Maternal Mental Health Month
May Measurement Month
MCS Awareness Month
Meditation Month
Mediterranean Diet Month
Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Chocolate Custard Month
National Comfort Month
National Digestive Disease Awareness Month
National Duckling Month
fried egg on national egg month
National Egg Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Heritage Month
National Inventors Month
a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Pet Month
National Photography Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Preservation Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Recommitment Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National San Architect Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Share a Story Month
National Show Your Smile Month
National Sight-Saving Month
National Strawberry Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
National Tennis Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Vinegar Month
National Walking Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
REACT Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Small Business Month
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Steelmark Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
Teen CEO Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Women's Health Month
Zombie Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.