[SoftTalker]

Ears evolved long before speech did. Probably in step with vocalizations however.

[Sharlin]

Not sure about that; I'd guess that vibration-sensing organs first evolved to sense disturbances (in water, on seafloor, later on dry ground and in air) caused by movement, whether of a predator, prey, or a potential mate. Intentional vocalizations for signalling purposes then evolved to utilize the existing modality.

[jibal]

Ears arose long before speech did. They evolved in response to changes in the environment, e.g., the existence of speech.