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Special recognition of October as National Audiology Awareness Month.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, National Audiology Awareness Month brings awareness to hearing health, the importance of hearing protection and alerts the public about the potential consequences of leaving hearing loss untreated, which has been linked to higher rates of depression, social isolation and a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline; and
WHEREAS, audiologists perform hearing evaluations, fit hearing aids, diagnose dizziness and auditory processing disorders and evaluate candidacy for cochlear implants. Educational audiologists create education plans for children with hearing loss, fit assistive devices for children to use in the classroom and monitor the functionality of hearing aids and other equipment during the school day; and
WHEREAS, the statistics of hearing loss are staggering as 36 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss and on average, a person with hearing loss will wait seven to 10 years to seek treatment after noticing the problem. In that time, hearing can not only worsen significantly, but also can cause a variety of health and psychological problems.
WHEREAS, the Lake County Health Department Community Health Center provides hearing screenings to school districts, religious schools, preschools and day care centers across the County. In the last fiscal year not affected by COVID-19, the Health Department Hearing and Vision Screening Program conducted 12,143 hearing screenings for children.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, that the County Board celebrates October as National Audiology Awareness Month and encourages residents to take care of their hearing health.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois on October 13, 2020.