Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month

May has been known as Better Hearing and Speech Month in the United States since 1927. During that year, the Holland Tunnel opened to feed traffic into and out of New York City. The Marines invaded Nicaragua and stayed until 1933. Heisenberg developed a theory of physics, but he was uncertain. The movie "Metropolis" premiered, and it certainly set the screen world on its ear. In the same vein, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) set out that year, to tell the public about disorders of communication. ASHA also started to tell the story on what speech-language pathologists can do for the individuals afflicted with these disorders. So much has changed since 1927, but Better Hearing and Speech Month has not. This year's theme is titled "Communication Takes Care". Activities, events, and public relations tools are used to spread the word about what SLP's do for the persons we serve.

How do I want to commemorate the month? Above all, I want to say "thanks" to my current and former employers, for giving me the chance to serve persons in need. I have grown tremendously as a professional, from the wise experience and advice I had received from patients, their families, my colleagues and my peers. Following is a list of those employers.

* Kindred Rehabilitation Services, Streamwood IL
* Payne Wellness Center, Schaumburg, IL
* Brookdale Senior Living, Des Plaines IL
* Independence Plus, Inc., Oak Brook IL
* Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst IL
* Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago IL
* Allendale Association, Lake Villa IL
* Exceptional Persons, Inc., Waterloo IA
* University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls IA
* Covenant Health System, Waterloo IA
* State of Idaho Dept. Health and Welfare, Rupert ID
* State of Louisiana Dept. Health and Welfare, Thibodaux LA
* Assumption Parish School Board, Napoleonville LA
* University of Iowa Healthcare, Iowa City IA
* St Luke's Methodist Hospital, Cedar Rapids, IA
* University of Iowa, Iowa City IA
* Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena MS
* Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gulfport -    Biloxi MS
* University of Mississippi, Oxford MS

Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month, everyone!