[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 51 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4193-S4194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 121--SUPPORTING MAY 2005 AS ``NATIONAL BETTER HEARING 
 AND SPEECH MONTH'' AND COMMENDING THOSE STATES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED 
 ROUTINE HEARING SCREENING FOR EVERY NEWBORN BEFORE THE NEWBORN LEAVES 
                              THE HOSPITAL

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, and Ms. Snowe) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 121

       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 2005 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 National Better 
     Hearing and Speech Month, May 2005;

[[Page S4194]]

       (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.

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit the Better Hearing 
and Speech Month Resolution with my friend and colleague Senator Joseph 
Lieberman of Connecticut.
  By passing this resolution, Congress will recognize May 2005 as 
National Better Hearing and Speech Month which will help raise public 
awareness, encourage prevention and treatment of hearing impairments, 
and commend those States that have implemented routine hearing 
screening for every newborn baby before the infant leaves the hospital. 
One in every ten Americans has hearing loss making it one of the most 
prevalent chronic health conditions in this country. In addition, every 
day 33 babies are born in the United States with permanent hearing 
loss, making it one of the most frequently occurring birth defects. The 
impact of delayed detection and intervention can last a lifetime.
  When hearing loss is found early, intervention and treatment can 
produce dramatic improvements in child speech and language development 
by school age.
  This Resolution will raise public awareness of the 28 million 
Americans who suffer from hearing loss and the importance of early 
detection and treatment.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this Resolution 
as research shows that children identified with hearing loss early and 
those who receive appropriate early qualified intervention by the age 
of six months have significantly improved speech skills than children 
whose hearing loss is identified later.

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