[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 366 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 366

  Supporting May 2004 as National Better Hearing and Speech Month and 
     commending those States that have implemented routine hearing 
  screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves the hospital.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 20, 2004

 Mr. Coleman submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting May 2004 as National Better Hearing and Speech Month and 
     commending those States that have implemented routine hearing 
  screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves the hospital.

Whereas the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 
        reports that approximately 28,000,000 people in the United States 
        experience hearing loss or have a hearing impairment;
Whereas 1 out of every 3 people in the United States over the age of 65 have 
        hearing loss;
Whereas the overwhelming majority of people in the United States with hearing 
        loss would benefit from the use of a hearing aid and fewer than 
        7,000,000 people in the United States use a hearing aid;
Whereas 30 percent of people in the United States suffering from hearing loss 
        cite financial constraints as an impediment to hearing aid use;
Whereas hearing loss is among the most common congenital birth defects;
Whereas a delay in diagnosing the hearing loss of a newborn can affect the 
        social, emotional, and academic development of the child;
Whereas the average age at which newborns with hearing loss are diagnosed is 
        between the ages of 12 to 25 months; and
Whereas May 2004 is National Better Hearing and Speech Month, providing Federal, 
        State, and local governments, members of the private and nonprofit 
        sectors, hearing and speech professionals, and all people in the United 
        States an opportunity to focus on preventing, mitigating, and treating 
        hearing impairments: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of May 2004 as National 
        Better Hearing and Speech Month;
            (2) commends those States that have implemented routine 
        hearing screenings for every newborn before the newborn leaves 
        the hospital; and
            (3) encourages all people in the United States to have 
        their hearing checked regularly.
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