VANCOUVER (May 1, 2023) – May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, a time to raise awareness about communication disorders and the professionals who help individuals overcome them. This year, Speech and Hearing BC (SHBC) is drawing attention to the lack of adequate access to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists in British Columbia and its impact on individuals and their families.
“Access to speech-language pathologists and audiologists is critical for individuals with communication disorders to help them achieve their full potential,” said Becca Yu, President, Speech and Hearing BC. “Unfortunately, many individuals in British Columbia do not have access to this care due to long waitlists, lack of resources and other barriers.”
Limited access to speech-language pathologists and audiologists results in lower communication health outcomes for people of all ages, especially our province’s children, as it connects to their cognitive development, social skills, academic learning, and self-regulation.
“British Columbia is falling behind the rest of Canada,” added Yu. “Federal comparisons on access to support from early childhood intervention, to hearing aid funding, to accessing speech-language pathology services for seniors recovering from illness, shows BC is not keeping pace with other parts of the country.”
Communication is a basic human right. SHBC calls on the government and health authorities to prioritize funding for SLPs and audiologists to ensure that all individuals in British Columbia have access to the care they need.
