World Hearing Day, celebrated March 3rd, is the World Health Organization’s global event aimed at raising awareness about preventing deafness and hearing loss and promoting hearing healthcare across the world. WHO has set three main objectives for World Hearing Day 2024:
- Counter the misperceptions about ear and hearing problems in communities and among healthcare providers.
- Provide evidence-based information to help change public perceptions of ear and hearing problems.
- Call on countries and society to address misperceptions and stigma surrounding hearing loss to ensure access to ear and hearing care for everyone.
Whether you have hearing loss yourself, know someone who does or are simply interested in educating and advocating for the ear and hearing world, celebrating World Hearing Day on March 3rd is a great place to start. Take a look at our six tips for engaging with the ear and hearing world this year.
1. Educate Yourself and Others
Nearly 20% of the global population has hearing loss. Take some time to learn about the causes and effects of hearing loss and the importance of early detection and intervention. Share what you learn with friends, family and colleagues. If you’re unsure where to start, read through and share a few of our audiology blogs.
2. Get Your Hearing Checked
Schedule a hearing test for yourself and encourage others to do the same. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can impact your mental health, triple your fall risk and increase your risk of developing dementia. Early detection of hearing loss can help mitigate the adverse effects through the use of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.
3. Spread Awareness on Social Media
Use your social media platforms to spread awareness about World Hearing Day. Share informative posts, infographics and articles about hearing health to help others learn and encourage greater participation.
4. Advocate for Accessible Environments
Advocate for the rights of people with hearing loss by promoting the creation of accessible environments in workplaces, schools, public spaces and online platforms.
5. Promote Safe Listening Practices
The Centers for Disease Control defines the threshold for hearing loss as exposure to noise above 70 decibels (dB) over a prolonged period or over 120 dB immediately. This threshold means that exposure to unexpected noise, like city traffic or lawnmowers, over a prolonged period can begin to cause permanent hearing loss.
Spread awareness about the importance of protecting your ears from loud noises. Encourage ear protection in noisy environments and promote safe listening habits, especially among young people who may be exposed to loud music.
6. Reflect on Personal Habits
Reflect on your listening habits and consider ways to protect your hearing health, such as reducing exposure to loud noises, taking regular breaks from headphones and maintaining overall ear hygiene.
Remember, celebrating World Hearing Day is not just about a single day of awareness but about promoting ongoing efforts to improve hearing health for everyone. For more information about how you can care for your hearing healthcare, call Hearing Services of Santa Barbara today.
