UNM Speech & Hearing Sciences is offering extremely valuable services to the community on Thursday, May 4.
New Mexico community members can take advantage of free speech and hearing screenings as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals who have been concerned they are experiencing difficulty hearing and are wondering if a full audiology exam is needed.” UNM Speech-Language Hearing Clinic Director Lori Nelson said.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., UNM audiologists and speech-language pathologists will perform voice, hearing, swallow and cognitive screenings and pediatric language and speech screenings. This is key for detecting issues in child language development and in adult brain function.
“If you are able to identify a delay or a potential underlying condition early, you can find ways to support their development and ultimately academic success,” Nelson said. “In addition, we are offering screenings for cognition to help adults to check for any warning signs of difficulty in thinking, memory, language, and judgment,” Nelson said.
Whether or not families take advantage of these services, Speech & Hearing Sciences experts want them to know that it’s important to keep an eye on these things.
“This is to raise awareness about communication disorders and hearing health,” UNM Audiologist Sarah Duncan said. “The goal is to promote understanding about speech and hearing disorders, to prevent hearing loss, and to encourage people to seek treatment for hearing and speech-related issues.”
These free services are available for ages five and older. Appointments for the May 4 opportunity can be made through UNM Speech & Hearing Sciences at 505-277-4453.