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(Rockville, MD - May 18, 2006) In honor of May being Better Hearing and Speech Month, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) will co-host hearing screenings today for members of Congress and their staff.
The screenings will occur today 3 PM-5 PM in Room HC-5, the U.S. Capitol.
"May is such a significant month and the participation of our nation's legislators in this event will help us highlight the importance of hearing and speech health," according to ASHA President Alex Johnson. "Also, we can't think of a more appropriate group to help achieve the important goal of having healthy hearing and speech than our legislators."
In addition, Johnson extends his appreciation to the co-chairs of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus who recently wrote colleagues, urging them to get their hearing checked at the event. The co-chairs include Reps. Jim Ryun (R-KS), Lois Capps (D-CA), Jim Walsh (R-NY) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).
Along with the screenings, beginning at 4 PM today, an Issues Forum will discuss key hearing health initiatives like newborn infant hearing screenings through the reauthorization of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act (HR 5250). The Forum will also focus on the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (HR. 414/S.1060) which is aimed at making hearing aids more accessible.
More than 31 million Americans have serious hearing loss, but less than 25% are receiving treatment.
For more information about hearing loss and other communication disorders, as well as Better Hearing and Speech Month, visit www.asha.org.
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
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