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IHS leaders with U.S. Congressman David McKinley (R-WV), Co-Chair of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus

IHS Advocacy Center

Urge your Congressman to join the Hearing Health Caucus

The Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (CHHC) is a bipartisan no-dues caucus of members from the U.S. House and United States Senate committed to supporting the needs of people with hearing loss and other auditory disorders. Founded in 2001, CHHC works to increase public and Congressional awareness of the issues of critical importance to those with hearing loss and other hearing-health conditions through periodic events and correspondence with all Members of Congress. The current Co-Chairman are Reps. David McKinley (R-WV) and Mike Thompson (D-CA).

Not only does IHS’ involvement with the CHHC provide us the opportunity to establish new relationships with Members of Congress who are supportive of hearing health issues, it also allows us to raise awareness of the needs of your patients – those who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Encourage your Member of Congress to join the CHHC by using the below webform. You can customize your message or just use the sample language provided, input your contact information and press send - it's that easy!

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If you take action and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from International Hearing Society.

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Dear [Decision Maker],

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As a hearing health professional, I am writing today to ask that you join the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, which is currently being chaired by Representatives David McKinley and Mike Thompson.  The caucus focuses attention on the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Hearing loss is a serious condition that is often overlooked when healthcare issues are considered in Congress, although it impacts more than 34 million Americans.  For many reasons, only 1 in 4 people address their hearing loss with hearing aids even though untreated hearing loss correlates with significantly reduced income potential, hinders learning options, and can lead to social phobias, isolation and depression.  Hearing loss has a profound impact on millions of older Americans, as well as millions of working age people and children.  In fact, hearing loss is among the most prevalent birth conditions in America affecting 3 in 1,000 births; and increasing numbers of younger people are experiencing hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noise.  In addition, hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are the number one injury that soldiers experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
I urge you to join the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus to help focus attention on the importance of hearing health.

To join, please contact Crozer Connor (Rep. Mike Thompson) or Chris Buki (Rep. David McKinley.

I really appreciate your support,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]