ASHA
supports upcoming legislation to provide tax
credits for Seniors and dependents to purchase
hearing aids
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- The American Speech- Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA) congratulates Representatives
Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
for reintroducing The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax
Credit Act (H.R. 2329) during Hearing on the
Hill, a yearly event that celebrates Better
Hearing and Speech Month.
H.R. 2329 will provide a tax credit, once every
five years, of up to $500 toward the purchase of
a hearing aid. The tax credit will be available
to individuals age 55 or older and dependents of
taxpayers.
"ASHA has been actively advocating for this
bill," asserts Dr. Noma Anderson, ASHA
President.
"Financial constraints are cited as a core
reason many Americans do not use hearing aids.
Hearing aids are currently not covered under
Medicare, or under the vast majority of state
mandated benefits. This bill will help those
affected come closer to being able to purchase
these much-needed devices."
Ten million older Americans have age-related
hearing loss. A study by the National Council on
the Aging (NCOA) shows that left untreated,
hearing loss often results in distorted
communication, isolation, withdrawal,
depression, anger, severely reduced overall
psychological health, in addition to an average
loss of income per household of up to $12,000
per year.
Furthermore, this bill will help children, a
group that often goes undiagnosed. Hearing
loss is one of the most prevalent birth
defects in the United States, affecting two
to three infants per 1,000 births. More than
one million children under age 18 have
hearing loss, according to the Better
Hearing Institute. Children can be fitted
with hearing aids soon after birth. For
those who do not receive early intervention,
overall lifetime costs for special
education, lost wages, and health
complications are close to $1 million each.
ASHA is a member of the Hearing Aid Tax
Coalition, a group of organizations dedicated to
hearing health and who are actively advocating
for this bill.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA) is the national professional, scientific,
and credentialing association for more than
127,000 audiologists, speech-language
pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing
scientists. Speech-language pathologists
identify, assess, and treat speech and language
problems.
Source:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
