SR815: SR815 Georgia Hearing Day; recognize February 23, 2026

26 LC 129 1174 Senate Resolution 815 By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Dixon of the 45th, Davenport of the 17th, Halpern of the 39th, Anderson of the 43rd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 23, 2026, as Georgia Hearing Day at the state capitol; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, hearing plays a critical role in communication and per sonal relationships,3 overall health outcomes, psychological well-being, and safety; and4 WHEREAS, hearing loss has been tied to cognitive decline, dementia, falls, depression, and5 isolation. It can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, including, but not limited6 to, infections, tumors, otosclerosis, and Meniere's disease and is typically irreversible; and7 WHEREAS, a study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute conc luded that untreated8 hearing loss has significant income ramifications, including negatively impacting household9 income by up to $12,000 annually and costing $122 billion in lo st earning in the United10 States; and11 WHEREAS, noise-induced hearing loss is a preventable and signif icant, through often12 unrecognized, health problem among United States adults, and is a growing problem with13 adolescents due to overamplification of personal listening devices; and14 S. R. 815 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1174 WHEREAS, according to the National Institutes of Deafness and O ther Communications15 Disorders (NIDCD), more than 37 million American adults (15 percent) report some trouble16 hearing, and approximately 28.2 million American adults could benefit from using hearing17 aids; and18 WHEREAS, according to the NIDCD, fewer than 30 percent of adults aged 70 and older and19 16 percent of adults aged 20 to 69 who experience hearing loss and who could benefit from20 hearing aids have ever used them; and21 WHEREAS, the Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals, a chapte r of the International22 Hearing Society, is composed of hearing health care professiona ls, including hearing aid23 specialists and audiologists, w ho are trained and specialize in the identification and24 assessment of hearing loss, rehabilitation through the use of hearing aids and related devices,25 and counseling; and26 WHEREAS, Georgia Hearing Day, founded by the Georgia Society of Hearing27 Professionals, aims to raise awareness of how to prevent deafne ss and hearing loss and to28 promote ear and hearing care across the world.29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body30 recognize February 23, 2026, as Georgia Hearing Day at the state capitol to encourage the31 citizens of Georgia to protect their hearing and seek the services of a licensed hearing health32 care professional, such as a hearing aid specialist, audiologist, or otolaryngologist, for regular33 hearing checks.34 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed35 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and press.36 S. R. 815 - 2 -