Posted: | October 17, 2023 01:24 PM |
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From: | Senator Carolyn T. Comitta |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | October as National Protect Your Hearing Month in PA |
Hearing is one of the five primary senses that connect us to each other and the world around us. The ability to hear clearly and effectively can impact our relationships, safety, education, career opportunities, mental health, and many other aspects of our lives. National Protect Your Hearing Month – observed each October – aims to raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss, and steps that people can take to better protect their hearing. While hearing impairment is often viewed as a problem facing an older population, 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk for developing permanent noise-induced hearing loss, due to exposure to loud sounds. Studies show that 1 in 5 people above 12 years old already are experiencing some form of hearing loss. Common noise hazards include loud music, parties, sports events, concerts, music in vehicles and more. And volume isn’t the only factor to consider. Noise exposure is cumulative. National Protect Your Hearing Month works to educate the public on methods to reduce their noise exposure while also encouraging the utilization of proper protective equipment, such as headphones or earplugs, to create a barrier in environments that pose a danger to our health. After meeting with 3 Tiny Bones, a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit destigmatizing hearing loss and educating communities on healthy hearing to create a more inclusive society, I was inspired to designate October 2023 as National Protect Your Hearing Month in Pennsylvania. The importance of hearing health and hearing protection cannot be underestimated – our sense of hearing is a valuable tool that many of us take for granted until it is too late. Please join me in supporting this resolution to educate Pennsylvanians about hearing protection by practicing healthy hearing habits. |