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Celebrate Speech & Hearing Month with Us

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May is Speech & Hearing Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of communication health and the essential work of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

This year’s theme is S-LPs & audiologists: Doing more than you think. We’re shining a spotlight on the broad scope of practice of our professions and the many ways they improve lives every day.

We’ve developed five new posters that showcase the diverse roles of S-LPs and audiologists – from supporting communication at the end of life to helping individuals manage tinnitus and regain language skills after brain injury.

Want to get involved? Download our Speech & Hearing Month toolkit, which includes social media shareables, posters, and tips to help you spread the word.

Access the toolkit and posters here.

Let’s work together to make communication a priority for all.

S-LPs & Audiologists: Doing More Than You Think

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This article originally appeared in La Scena Musicale on March 31, 2025.

Communication is more than just words, it is the foundation of human connection and self-expression. For musicians, singers, and music lovers, it’s also an essential tool of their craft. It’s the ability to hear a loved one’s voice or enjoy a favourite melody. It allows grandparents to delight in their grandchild’s laughter, a child to thrive in school, and musicians to protect their hearing for a long-lasting career. Yet, when communication, swallowing, or balance challenges arise, they can significantly impact one’s quality of life.

That’s where speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and audiologists come in. These highly trained, regulated health professionals help people of all ages overcome barriers to communication, hearing, balance and swallowing, often in ways that go far beyond what many expect. S-LPs and audiologists work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, private clinics, research institutions, and long-term-care homes. They are key members of health-care and education teams, providing evidence-informed care that supports individuals at every stage of life. An S-LP has the knowledge, training, and scope of practice to:

  • help stroke survivors regain their ability to speak and swallow;
  • support individuals wanting to modify their voice and communication to align with their gender identity and expression; and
  • educate family members on how to effectively communicate with a loved one who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

An audiologist has the knowledge, training and scope of practice to:

  • provide custom hearing protection for musicians, workers, and athletes;
  • educate patients and family members on optimizing music listening when experiencing hearing loss; and
  • assist those with tinnitus in developing strategies to manage their condition.

Many people do not realize the full scope of practice of these professions. When thinking of S-L-Ps, one may assume they only help children with speech difficulties or that audiologists only fit hearing aids for seniors. However, their work extends far beyond these common perceptions. Whether it’s helping a singer recover from vocal fatigue, fitting a musician with custom hearing protection, or supporting a grandparent in hearing a grandchild’s laughter, S-LPs and audiologists make a lasting impact on the lives of those they work with.

May is Speech & Hearing Month: Proclamations from the City of Saskatoon and the City of Regina 

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This year, both the City of Saskatoon and the City of Regina have issued official proclamations recognizing May as Speech & Hearing Month!

The following was submitted to be read at City Council meetings:

“Each year, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) dedicates the month of May to raising public awareness about communication health. We work to highlight the importance of early detection and intervention of communication and swallowing disorders and the role that our members and associates play in assessing and treating them.

Communication and swallowing disorders are among the most common conditions across the lifespan and are not readily visible from the outside. Left untreated, these disorders can negatively impact a person’s academic, social, and career success—as well as their overall health and quality of life.

With early intervention and treatment, communication and swallowing disorders can be reversed or even prevented. However, treatment at any age or any stage can make a positive impact.

Therefore, I am pleased to join with the citizens of Saskatoon/Regina in recognizing May as Speech and Hearing Month. I salute the audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and communication health assistants in our community who dedicate themselves every day to improving the lives of their clients, patients, and students.”

SAC Urges Government to Prioritize Communication Health in New Term

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April 29, 2025 

With the federal election results now confirmed and a Liberal government in power, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) congratulates all candidates and stands ready to work with all parties to advance the priorities of our professions and the Canadians we serve. We are calling on the federal government to fulfill its healthcare commitments, including improving access to care and strengthening health workforce planning, with communication health as a key focus.  

A new mandate brings new opportunities. SAC urges the new government to prioritize federal investment for the advancement of communication health services and the integration of speech-language pathologists and audiologists into health human resource planning.  

We are dedicated to ensuring the voices of our members are heard at the national level. In the coming weeks, we will engage directly with key Ministers, Shadow Ministers, and Members of Parliament to push for stronger health and education systems that reflect the expertise of our professions and the needs of the people we serve.    

Our current federal advocacy priorities outline the key actions we’re calling on the government to take and will guide our advocacy efforts throughout this mandate.  

Thank you to all our members who used SAC’s Advocacy Toolkit and took the time to make their voices heard during this election. Your voice matters, and together, we are stronger.

Participate in an SAC Provincial Advocacy Workshop

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On June 10-11, 2025, SAC’s provincial advocacy teams in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will each host a regionally focused workshop to help empower SAC members to initiate and lead advocacy efforts in their respective communities. These regionally focused and interactive workshops will emphasize how the collective voices of passionate and driven SAC members can create meaningful change. 

Each presentation will provide an introductory analysis of the respective province’s political landscape, the various government and non-government institutions that affect the professions of speech-language pathology, audiology and communication health assistants, and how to get involved in advocacy efforts to create change. 

By the end of the workshops, participants will gain an understanding of best practices for grassroots advocacy with a focus on ensuring members have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate the political landscape in their local community, workplace and government. To join one of the provincial advocacy workshops, proceed below: 

Alberta’s Healthcare Funding Shift Raises Concerns

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Alberta’s evolving approach to healthcare funding, including increased emphasis on private delivery models, raises important questions about how best to ensure equitable, accessible care for all residents.

As overall healthcare budgets stabilize, expanded investment in private facilities could unintentionally limit support for other essential services, including those delivered by SAC members. For speech-language pathologists and audiologists working in public hospitals, this change in funding allocation may result in growing challenges in meeting patient needs if funding for public systems remains stagnant while demand increases.

SAC continues to advocate for strong, sustainable public healthcare systems and equitable access to speech-language pathology and audiology services across all communities in Alberta and Canada. 

Recognizing S-LPs in Hospital Settings

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Did you know that Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LPs) play a crucial role in hospitals across Ontario? These highly trained professionals assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders, working closely with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure patients receive comprehensive care.

In specialized hospital settings, S-LPs often provide advanced services such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and tracheoesophageal voice restoration for patients recovering from a laryngectomy. With their deep clinical knowledge, S-LPs are the leading professionals in the assessment, treatment, and long-term management of dysphagia – a common condition among individuals with neurological disorders, head and neck cancers, and post-surgical complications. They also devote time to educating patients and families on strategies and tools to improve daily functions and safety.

As we prepare to celebrate Speech & Hearing Month this May with the theme ‘S-LPs & Audiologists: Doing More Than You Think,’ we recognize the often-overlooked contributions of S-LPs in hospital settings—and highlight the urgent need for enhanced support and resources so they can continue delivering high-quality care where it’s needed most.

SAC Celebrates Student Intern Andrew Bachnysky’s Field Placement

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Improving access to care, skilled workforce retention, and Indigenous communities’ access to communication health services remain key priorities for the SAC team.

This year, SAC mentored 4th-year Health Sciences Carleton University student Andrew Bachynsky through a research placement exploring health research, policy and innovation. On April 9, Andrew presented at Carleton University’s Health Science showcase to display an end-of-placement project poster titled “Mapping Opportunities for Speech-Language & Audiology Canada to engage with Indigenous Community Groups Across Canada.”

To fulfill our provincial and federal priorities to improve human health resources and advocate for the integration of the professions within healthcare and education, we recognize the importance of supporting the next generation of health professionals in realizing their potential. The SAC team thanks Andrew for his hard work throughout his placement, his enthusiasm in learning about our work, and for sharing his learnings with his peers.

Ontario Announces its Plan to Break Down Barriers to Free Trade & Labour Mobility

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Premier Doug Ford announced the government’s plan to boost and protect Ontario’s economy through the introduction of legislation aimed at reducing internal trade and labour barriers across Canada. The Protect Ontario through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025, if passed, would remove existing barriers to internal trade, reduce costs for Ontarians, and encourage buy local initiatives.  

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are among the list of regulated health professionals that could potentially begin practicing in Ontario while they wait for registration in an Ontario health regulatory college through the removal of restrictions on where they may work using “As of Right” rules.  

Key highlights on labour mobility include:  

  • Simplified movement across provincial lines, enabling certified workers to start jobs right away while completing a streamlined registration process 
  • Ontario recognizing workers licensed in other provinces and territories as qualified to work in Ontario if those regions mutually reciprocate  
  • More regulated health professionals in good standing are being allowed to start practising sooner and before their full Ontario registration is complete. This includes exploring the inclusion of U.S. professionals under the new rules.
  • MOUs with Nova Scotia & New Brunswick to promote reciprocal labour mobility and reduce licensing or red tape
  • Encouragement to other provinces and the federal government to adopt similar labour mobility measures to ensure fairness and opportunity for Canadian workers across the country 

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada is pleased to see that labour mobility is a major priority for the Ontario government. These changes would play a crucial role in addressing current human health resource challenges and improving access to essential speech, language, and hearing services. We welcome this important dialogue and look forward to contributing to solutions that support workforce flexibility on behalf of our members

Read the full technical briefing.

Interprofessional Primary Care Teams Call for Proposals

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On April 10, the Ontario government launched the first call for proposals to create and expand up to 80 primary care teams for 300,000 more people in 2025-2026. This is part of a $1.8 billion investment to support the province’s Primary Care Action Team, which plans to add 305 new primary care teams and connect two million people to publicly funded primary care within four years.

The first round of applications targets communities where the most residents lack a primary care provider. Primary care practices and clinicians in Ontario Health Teams (OHT) can apply to establish or expand team-based models, including Family Health Teams, Community Health Centres, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, and Indigenous Primary Health Care Organizations.

S-LPs and audiologists are key to patient care, addressing speech, language, hearing, balance, and swallowing disorders across all stages of life. Their work ensures these needs are prioritized, helping patients navigate the system more confidently. SAC will monitor updates on Ontario’s Primary Care Action and Plan and urges our members to utilize our Team Primary Care Toolkit.
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