REFERENCE TITLE: world hearing day

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SCR 1031

Introduced by

Senators Alston: Burch, Gabaldón, Gonzales, Marsh, Miranda, Sundareshan; Representatives Gutierrez, Pawlik, Terech

A Concurrent Resolution

recognizing march 3, 2023 as world hearing day in the state of Arizona.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, hearing plays a critical role in communication and personal relationships, overall health outcomes, psychological well-being and safety; and

Whereas, hearing loss, which is typically irreversible, has been tied to cognitive decline, dementia, falls, depression and isolation, and hearing loss can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as infection, tumor, otosclerosis and Meniere's disease; and

Whereas, a study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute concluded that untreated hearing loss has significant income ramifications, including negatively impacting household income in the United States by up to $12,000 annually and costing $122 billion in lost earnings; and

Whereas, noise-induced hearing loss is a preventable and significant, though often unrecognized, health problem among American adults and is a growing problem with adolescents due to overamplification of personal listening devices; and

Whereas, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 37 million American adults, or 15%, report some trouble hearing, and about 28.2 million adults in the United States could benefit from using hearing aids; and

Whereas, according to the NIDCD, fewer than 30% of adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss and 16% of adults aged 20 to 69 with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them; and

Whereas, the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing proudly serves the 1.1 million deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind Arizonans through its work as the statewide information and referral bureau, the hearing health care program, the telecommunication equipment distribution program and Arizona Relay Services, its efforts in family engagement services and training and its partnerships with both public and private entities, ensuring the quality of life for every person who has a varying hearing level; and

Whereas, World Hearing Day, founded by the World Health Organization, is observed annually on March 3rd to raise awareness about how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to promote ear and hearing care around the world; and

Whereas, World Hearing Day provides an opportunity to focus on preventing hearing loss and promoting access to necessary rehabilitation services and communications tools for individuals with hearing loss.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature proclaim March 3, 2023 as World Hearing Day in the State of Arizona and encourage the citizens of Arizona to protect their hearing and seek the services of licensed hearing health care professionals for regular hearing checks.