World Hearing Day

Every year, the third of March marks the World Hearing Day. Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), this year’s theme will be: “Hear the future  – and prepare for it. “ 

According to the website, three key messages highlight the event: 

· expected rise in prevalence of hearing loss globally over the coming years (based on statistical projections);

· efforts that are required to stem the rise through appropriate preventive action;

· need to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to the required rehabilitation services and the communication tools and products they require.

Feeding the Numbers

If the past is any indication, it is reasonable to expect that the cases of hearing loss will continue to rise. Aging and exposures to excessively loud sound are the leaders on a long list of causes for hearing loss.  Indeed, the baby boomers keep on aging and people live longer. 

The world is getting louder every day, yet often little is done to limit and enforce environmental sound levels. Unaware of their risks, people are not motivated to turn down the volume in their own lives, which also leads to younger people joining the ranks of the hearing-challenged.    

Prevention is a group effort

Preventive efforts need to involve an aggressive boost of public education on the causes and consequences of hearing loss as well as on prevention and noise protection strategies.  Without information and context, people have little appreciation of how their own actions can seriously endanger their hearing and affect their quality of life and productivity.  

Government agencies must become serious about establishing and enforcing environmental and industry noise regulations. In essence, preventive efforts include the cooperation of public and private sectors as well as the involvement of an increasingly hearing-smart public that will demand change. 

The importance of money

Eventually, it all comes down to hard cash. Education on hearing loss and treating hearing loss and its physical and psychological consequences are expensive.Therefore, it will take hefty public and private money commitments to make a difference. Money opens the door to technology and rehabilitation and care. 

So, ─ for instance in the United States ─ will health insurance plans or social security help pay for these services? Also, ongoing research regarding hearing loss itself and the development of ever-improving technology options also need funding.  

In the end.. .

There is so much more to hearing loss then not hearing well.  So, kudos to the WHO for putting this invasive yet non-lethal communication disorder on an international stage – if only for a day. By thinking and working together emerging new ideas and strategies will help those with hearing loss and with that world. There is no time like the present to take action!   

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For industry Safety Training on Noise-induced Hearing Loss prevention or presentations, please see details on this site or email [email protected]

To learn about ears and hearing, please see my book on hearing loss: What Did You Say? An Unexpected Journey into the World of Hearing Loss, now in its second updated edition. Sharing my story and what I had to learn the hard way.