Senate Resolution No. 1553

BY: Senator PERSAUD

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 31, 2024, as Save Your Hearing Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days 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 31, 2024, as Save Your
Hearing Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Save Your Hearing Day; and

WHEREAS, National Save Your Hearing Day is observed annually on May
31st, the culmination of Better Hearing and Speech Month, and raises
awareness about hearing loss and the importance of preserving our
hearing; and

WHEREAS, Records of hearing loss have been around since ancient
times; an Egyptian mummy showed evidence of having a perforated eardrum,
which signals hearing loss; and

WHEREAS, Sign language began to be used early on, as evidenced by
the writings of the Athenian philosopher Plato; the earliest mention of
a hearing device comes from the writings of an Italian scholar who
described an instrument which could amplify sounds; and

WHEREAS, In later years, education on hearing protection was spurred
on by military needs; both World Wars saw the development of multiple
new inventions in hearing aid, from earplugs and ear flaps to protect
hearing, to earmuffs; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, as with most inventions, these earmuffs also
underwent a series of transformations to become the fluffy ear
protectors they are today; and

WHEREAS, Today, National Save Your Hearing Day normalizes hearing
problems, protects ear health and raises awareness about care; and

WHEREAS, Hearing loss can be prevented or, at the very least,
treated; learning more about our hearing teaches us how easy it is to
abuse our ears and how quickly we can ruin our hearing capacity; it also
makes us more sympathetic towards those with hearing loss; and

WHEREAS, The simple and small tweaks to our lifestyle provided on
National Save Your Hearing Day can drastically improve hearing health;
and

WHEREAS, National Save Your Hearing Day, and the subsequent events
around it, bring attention to an often neglected and abused part of our
well-being, our hearing; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this health issue and more must be done to improve hearing health for
all New Yorkers and those affected by hearing loss; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2024, as Save Your
Hearing Day in the State of New York; and be it further

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