World Hearing Day is an annual global advocacy event for raising awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care, and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues.
Each year, World Hearing Day is celebrated on 3 March, covering a specific theme on which the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners carry out activities based on this theme.
This year’s theme builds upon the 2024 focus on changing mindsets towards ear and hearing care, with the theme, “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”
By encouraging individuals to recognize the importance of ear and hearing health, this campaign aims to inspire them to change their behavior to protect their hearing from loud sounds and prevent hearing loss, check their hearing regularly, use hearing devices if needed, and support those living with hearing loss. Empowered individuals can drive change within themselves and in society at large.
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According to the World Health Organization around 5 percent of the world’s population, i.e. 430 million people require rehabilitation to address their Disabling Hearing Loss. By 2050, around 10 percent of the world’s population i.e. 700 million people will require rehabilitation to address their Disabling Hearing Loss.
Noise-Induced hear loss
Over 80 percent of ear and hearing care needs remain unmet. Unaddressed hearing loss costs nearly $1 trillion.
Ahead of World Hearing Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) highlighted the first global standard for safe listening in video game play and esport activities, which aims to reduce the risk of and prevent hearing loss among gamers. Previously, no safe listening guidelines or standards existed for video gameplay devices or software.
Nearly 50 percent of the population aged 12-35 years in middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs), face the risk of hearing loss due to high volume/prolonged listening in the Public Address System (PAS). Nearly 40 percent of this population is exposed to damaging sound in recreational venues.
Prevention
Public health initiatives can prevent about 60 percent of hearing loss in children under the age of fifteen. The majority of common causes in adults, like loud noises and ototoxic medications, can be prevented.
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Access to appropriate and affordable technology, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, smartphone apps, wearable devices, is a major solution to prevent hear loss.
Rehabilitation Services – Multidisciplinary, family-centered hearing and speech rehabilitation, and Services for children – counselling and auditory rehabilitation for adults with hearing loss.
Sign language learning & interpretation services captioning services in professional and recreational settings.
