Proclaiming May 2010 as "May is Better Hearing and Speech Month."

The City Council of Philadelphia designates May 2010 as “May is Better Hearing and Speech Month” in Philadelphia and encourages people to get screened for hearing loss.

WHEREAS

, For over 75 years May has been designated as Better Hearing and Speech Month -- a time to raise public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the various forms of communication impairments to include those of hearing, speech, language, and voice; and

WHEREAS,

Communication impairments affect the most vulnerable in our society -- the young, the aged, the disabled, and the poor; and

WHEREAS

,

With hearing loss becoming more common in the United States as younger people lose hearing due to noise exposure and the baby boomers age, Better Hearing and Speech Month has become even more important as a means of reaching those reluctant to have their hearing tested

; and

WHEREAS

,

This annual event provides opportunities to raise awareness about communication disorders and to promote treatment that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems with speaking, understanding, or hearing

; and

WHEREAS

, Research shows that when people cannot hear properly, they make less money and their inability to hear can disrupt family life and other relationships; and

WHEREAS

, The good news is that hearing loss can be easily diagnosed, and for most people, there are solutions in the form of digital and programmable hearing aids, many of which are not visible; and

WHEREAS

, The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that approximately 43,000,000 people in the United States suffer from a speech, voice, language, or hearing impairment; and

WHEREAS

, An estimated 28 million Americans have a hearing loss that can be treated; yet fewer than 7,000,000 use a hearing aid; and

WHEREAS

, May is Better Hearing Month, May your hearing remain healthy for years to come; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA,

That the Month of May 2010 be proclaimed as “May is Better Hearing and Speech Month” in Philadelphia and encourages people to get screened for hearing loss; and

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Larry S. Taub, Head of School of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End