Dr. Tiasunup Pongener, MD
State Programme Officer (NPPCD),
Directorate of Health & Family Welfare
Every year on 3rd March, WHO, the health agency of the United Nations, engages organizations in observing the World Hearing Day for public awareness activities. This year’s theme, “Hearing for life: Don’t let hearing loss limit you,” highlights the importance of hearing loss prevention and timely and effective interventions for those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Key messages for World Hearing Day 2020:
• At all life stages of life, communication and good hearing connect us to each other, our communities, and the world.
• For those who have hearing loss, appropriate and timely interventions can facilitate access to education, employment and communication.
• Globally, there is lack of access to interventions to address hearing loss, such as hearing aids.
• Early intervention should be made available through the health systems.
WHO aims to protect the hearing of people around the world—especially young people. It raises awareness about healthy listening practices during activities such as concerts, eating at noisy restaurants, and listening to music.
It is recognized that 360 million people across the world live with disabling hearing loss, a total that includes 32 million children and nearly 180 million other adults. Concerned by the persistent high prevalence of chronic ear diseases, such a chronic otitis media, which lead to hearing loss and may cause life-threatening complications. Most of the causes of hearing loss are avoidable with preventive strategies; that the interventions available are both successful and cost-effective; but that, despite this, most people with ear diseases and hearing loss do not have access to suitable services.
Acknowledging the significance of work-related, noise-induced hearing loss, in addition to issues related to recreational and environmental noise-induced hearing loss, unaddressed hearing loss interferes greatly with an individual’s physical, behavioural, and social functioning. Deafness and hearing loss affect people of all ages and in all segments of the population.
Implement and monitor screening programmes for early identification of ear diseases, such as chronic otitis media and hearing loss in high-risk populations, including infants, young children, older adults and people exposed to noise in occupational and recreational settings.
To improve access to affordable, cost-effective, high-quality, assistive hearing technologies and products, including hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive devices, as part of universal health coverage, taking into account the delivery capacity of health care systems in an equitable and sustainable manner;
Noting the impact of ear diseases and hearing loss on the development, ability to communicate, education, livelihood, social well-being and economic independence of individuals, as well as on communities and countries it is significant to raise awareness at all levels and political commitment and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Help spread the message about healthy hearing and encourage your family to make healthy hearing habits and prevent hearing loss from noise for a lifetime. Practice safe listening by taking these three simple steps:
• Lower the volume
• Move away from the noise
• Wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or protective earmuffs.
