This day, March 3rd, is World Hearing Day.
Approximately 38 million Americans report hearing loss.
Meanwhile, an estimated 29 million American adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
So, I’d like to speak to you about the importance of hearing health and treating hearing loss.
Hearing and balance of the body are deeply connected. Even mild hearing loss puts you at greater risk of a fall. Hearing aids can help prevent that risk.
Treating hearing loss can lower risk of dementia.
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to loneliness and isolation. It can cut you off from those around you.
Historically, hearing aids have been unaffordable and inaccessible.
I’ve heard from Iowans who’ve told me about their struggles hearing and how they want hearing aids to hear their kids or grandkids, but they held off on buying hearing aids because they were so expensive.
Now that brings me to the reason that Senator Warren and I led the bipartisan effort to pass and implement legislation called, Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act. We did that in 2017.
That law made over-the-counter hearing aids available as a safe, effective and accessible option for adults that had no greater than mild to moderate hearing loss.
I’m also working to ensure seniors have access to a range of hearing and balance health care services in my bipartisan Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act.
So, I encourage Americans to take steps to protect and care for their hearing as well as monitor for signs of potential hearing loss.
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