The Friends of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus (FCHHC) hosted its annual Capitol Hill briefing on May 29, 2019.  The focus of the briefing was to showcase research and discuss how not properly treating hearing loss can impact both the overall health of adults and the economics of the health care system.  Research demonstrates that hearing loss can contribute to increased falls, hospitalizations, dementia, interference in day-to-day human interactions, and employment risks.  Speakers and participants discussed what could be cost savings, as well as individual and societal benefits, by expanding coverage of hearing health care services.

Academy past president Ian Windmill, PhD, joined Richard Gurgel, MD in presenting “The Costs of Hearing Care in the United States”.  Additional information about the briefing is available on the FCHHC page.

The FCHHC is a coalition of organizations that support the US House of Representatives’ caucus that focuses on issues related to hearing health.  The Academy is a member of the FCHHC, working collaboratively with the members of Congress in the caucus and other organizations within the hearing health community to highlight important policy issues.