World Hearing Day is a global celebration spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim to raise awareness of hearing loss and promote the vision of accessible hearing care for everyone. This year the WHO aims to overcome the challenges posed by societal misperceptions and stigmatizing mindsets by raising awareness and sharing information. 

The theme for 2024 is “Changing Mindsets” and the WHO is determined to do so by countering common misperceptions related to ear and hearing problems, providing accurate and evidence-based information, and calling on countries and civil society to address misperceptions, to achieve equitable access to ear and hearing care. 

To fully understand the significance of World Hearing Day, we look at the historical significance of the day and explore the importance of this global initiative.

History of World Hearing Day

Introduced in 2007 by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Hearing Day was born to promote hearing health, encourage people to look after their hearing, and provide guidance on how non-afflicted people can help those with hearing loss, or hearing difficulties.

The annual celebration date – March 3rd – was chosen purposefully as “3.3” represents two ears. A significant part of this initiative is to remove the stigma associated with hearing loss as it’s a contributing factor as to why some people take up to 7 years to seek treatment.

According to the WHO, approximately 466 million people have disabling hearing loss across the world. It is believed that this number will double to over 900 million by 2050, highlighting the significant public health issue that hearing loss is. 

Since its inception, the WHO has selected a different theme each year. In 2024, the theme is “Changing Mindsets” as the stigma surrounding hearing loss is still one of the biggest barriers to people seeking treatment. A delay in seeking treatment does not only mean that people suffer unnecessarily with hearing difficulties, but earlier treatment may even reduce the severity of hearing loss that some people face. 

The theme for 2024, is “Changing mindsets related to ear and hearing care is crucial to improving access and mitigating the cost of unaddressed hearing loss”. 

The importance of World Hearing Day

According to the WHO, approximately 466 million people have disabling hearing loss across the world. It is believed that this number will double to over 900 million by 2050, highlighting the significant public health issue that hearing loss is. 

The goal of World Hearing Day is to promote inclusivity and accessibility so that everyone can enjoy access to the same opportunities and services. Only through promoting awareness can we work together to make sure that those with hearing loss have access to inclusive environments in the workplace, at school, and in other public places. 

Those without hearing loss may take their hearing for granted, being able to navigate the world without the difficulty of hearing loss. When, for example, a daily activity as simple as using public transport can be daunting enough that it becomes inaccessible. World Hearing Day is significant because it encourages everyday people to think about the challenges that those with hearing loss experience so that they can help them with everyday tasks. 

The theme of “changing mindsets” is not only applicable to those who stigmatize hearing loss but it is also applicable to those who do not think of hearing loss as a “major” health issue. We may believe that hearing loss can simply be corrected with the use of hearing aids or through surgery but it’s not that simple. 

The importance of early detection

Since World Hearing Day is focused on increasing awareness to promote accessibility, it is important to stress that early detection of hearing loss can reduce the impact and cost of hearing loss treatment. By testing hearing regularly, any abnormalities or concerns can be identified early on, and the likelihood of identifying a suitable intervention is higher. 

On a broader spectrum, hearing loss carries emotional, social, and economic repercussions, impeding interpersonal communication with friends and family, hindering employment prospects, and potentially exacerbating feelings of isolation, depression, and cognitive decline. Early detection and treatment could offer a vastly improved quality of life for those with hearing loss.

Conclusion

World Hearing Day is significant as it works to raise awareness of hearing loss and the challenges those who suffer from it face. It also promotes accessible hearing healthcare for everyone, everywhere – an idea close to Lexie Hearing’s heart and motto. It is a global occasion that brings to light the consequences of hearing loss and highlights how we can support those with hearing loss in creating a more accessible world.