Dusty Johnson: “today I want to address this body in order to help raise awareness about an important health problem in our society.…”

“today I want to address this body in order to help raise awareness about an important health problem in our society. Hearing loss impacts the lives of 28 million men, women, and children in the United States. As baby boomers reach retirement age, that number will rapidly climb and nearly double by 2030. The combined effects of noise, aging, disease, and heredity have made hearing impairments a reality for many Americans. Children with hearing loss may lack speech and language development skills. Seniors may find it difficult to talk with friends, listen to the television, or hear an alarm. For all Americans, recognizing and treating hearing loss can be the difference between dependence and independence. Across the country, awareness campaigns have identified hearing loss as a major public-health issue. Last month, Newsweek had a cover story discussing the impact of hearing loss on young Americans. Experts estimate that 21 million people could benefit from a hearing aid, but do not use them or have access to them. I will ask unanimous consent to insert this important news article in the Record, so that all of our colleagues can read and learn more about this issue. In addition to educating themselves, I also ask that Members educate their loved ones and constituents about this important issue. To ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive direct access to services, I have introduced the Hearing Health Accessibility Act of 2005, S.277 in February of this year.…”