Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and in providing life-altering treatment.There are 20,000 Hearing Impaired citizens in Carlsbad. Loss of hearing has increased by 30% in the last 14 years. Is it noise, nutritional deficiency or DNA mutations? Teresa Barnes, RN, author, speaker, and hearing loss ambassador, is the forerunner for bringing a new symbol to help increase the awareness around this health issue, stigma removal, and preventive measures to aid in decreasing the loss of this vital sense. She is helping create “Hearing Friendly Businesses” to increase sales, production, morale and customer service pertaining to the topic of hearing. Mayor Matt Hall presented a Proclamation on Tuesday, April 25 for the American Hearing Loss Association that Barnes is a member of. On a larger scale California Assembly District Member Rocky Chavez of the 76th District declared through a Proclamation that his district also acknowledges May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. His District has 465,674 people in it that could be directly or indirectly affected with lack of hearing. He is raising the awareness by acknowledging this health concern. For further information, please visit hearcommunication.com.