Designates May of each year as "Better Hearing Month."

AJR140

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 140

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates May of each year as �Better Hearing
Month.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating May of each year as
�Better Hearing Month.�

Whereas,

Hearing is critical to language, speech, and cognitive development and hearing
loss can affect every area of a person�s life, including physical health,
mental health, career success, social life, personal relationships, and overall
quality of life; and

Whereas,

An estimated 48 million Americans have a significant hearing loss, as do an
estimated 850,000 New Jersey residents; and

Whereas,

Hearing loss occurs in five out of every 1,000 newborns and almost 15 percent
of children ages 6-19 have low- or high-frequency hearing loss in one or both
ears; and

Whereas,

Approximately 14 percent of Americans ages 45-64 have some type of hearing loss
and nearly half of Americans over age 65 have clinically significant hearing
loss that threatens their health and well-being; and

Whereas,

Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in
the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of
hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages; and

Whereas,

Audiologists, through their professional and personalized treatment services,
help their patients lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives; and

Whereas,

Hearing aids are common treatment devices used by audiologists and can offer
dramatic improvement for most people with hearing loss, yet people with hearing
loss wait an average of seven years before seeking help and 15 million people
in the United States with hearing loss avoid seeking help; and

Whereas,

Since 1927, audiologists all across New Jersey, observe and celebrate �Better
Hearing Month� May of each year to raise awareness, promote understanding of
hearing health, encourage New Jersey residents to undergo hearing loss
screenings, promote hearing loss prevention, and motivate people to seek
treatment for hearing related issues; and

Whereas,

It is fitting and proper that the Legislature designate the month of May as
�Better Hearing Month� in order to provide an opportunity to raise awareness
and public knowledge regarding hearing related issues and to recognize the
achievements of the hundreds of audiologists working across New Jersey when it
comes to improving the quality of life for people dealing with hearing loss;
now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� May of each year is
designated as �Better Hearing Month� in the State of New Jersey to help
increase awareness and public knowledge of the problems affecting persons
dealing with hearing loss.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public
officials and citizens of New Jersey to observe �Better Hearing Month� with
appropriate activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates May of each year as �Better Hearing Month� in New Jersey to help
increase awareness and public knowledge of the problems affecting persons
dealing with hearing loss.

���� Hearing loss can affect every
area of a person�s life, including physical health, mental health, career
success, social life, personal relationships, and overall quality of life.� An
estimated 48 million Americans have a significant hearing loss, as do an
estimated 850,000 New Jersey residents.

���� Those affected by hearing loss
seek treatment from audiologists who are healthcare professionals who provide
patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and
evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for
people of all ages.� Audiologists commonly recommend that their patients use
hearing aids because hearing aids can provide dramatic improvement for most
people with hearing loss, yet people with hearing loss wait an average of 7
years before seeking help and 15 million people in the United States with
hearing loss avoid seeking help.

���� Since 1927, audiologists all
across New Jersey, observe and celebrate �Better Hearing Month� May of each
year to raise awareness and promote understanding of hearing health and
encourage New Jersey residents to undergo hearing loss screenings, promote hearing
loss prevention, and motivate people to seek treatment for hearing related
issues.