Bill Text: NY K00470 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 4-10, 2023, as Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-16 - adopted [K00470 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K00470-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 470

BY: M. of A. Solages

           memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
        May 4-10, 2023, as Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness
        Week in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of health issues
that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim May 4-10, 2023, as Late
Onset Hearing  Loss  Awareness  Week  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in
conjunction  with  the  observance  of  National Late Onset Hearing Loss
Awareness Week; and

  WHEREAS, Late onset hearing loss, defined as hearing loss  occurring
after   birth  and  before  Kindergarten,  often  goes  undiagnosed  and
untreated in childhood due to lack of awareness and infrequency of early
childhood hearing screenings; and

  WHEREAS, Late onset hearing loss may develop in  infants,  toddlers,
and  young  children who have already passed a newborn hearing screening
test; a hearing screening at birth may fail to detect mild hearing  loss
or the onset of hearing loss may not occur until after infancy; and

  WHEREAS,  The factors causing late onset hearing loss are varied and
include  genetic  causes,  childhood  syndromes,   congenital   illness,
infections,  exposure to ototoxic medications, head trauma, and exposure
to excessive noise; however, the cause of late onset hearing loss is not
always known; and

  WHEREAS, Hearing plays a vital role in  childhood  development,  and
undetected  late  onset hearing loss could lead to developmental delays,
speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional distress that
can only be addressed once hearing loss is diagnosed; and

  WHEREAS, The  COVID-19  pandemic  and  the  associated  decrease  in
in-person  education,  medical  treatment, and other social interactions
have increased the likelihood that  late  onset  hearing  loss  will  go
undetected for longer in many children; and

  WHEREAS, It is important to quickly diagnose late onset hearing loss
so  that  appropriate  developmental management can be provided, hearing
loss progression can be monitored, and amplification  and  communication
options   can   be   reviewed  by  a  child's  family,  caretakers,  and
professionals who support the child; and

  WHEREAS, Awareness of late onset hearing  loss  will  help  parents,
families,  guardians,  teachers, child-care providers, and pediatricians
to discuss and assess  a  child's  developmental  milestones,  regularly
monitor  hearing  health  and  seek hearing evaluations, and learn about
resources, treatment, and intervention services to address the needs and

improve the lives  of  children  with  late  onset  hearing  loss;  now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 4-10,  2023,  as  Late
Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week in the State of New York; and

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.