World Hearing Day: History, Significance, Objectives

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Mar 1, 2023, 10:45

World Hearing Day is observed on March 3 every year to raise awareness about deafness prevention. This is also a day to promote hearing aid and care for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. World Hearing Day is organized by the Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness, World Health Organization.

Initiatives such as World Hearing Day can help in spreading the word about technologies that help people with full/partial deafness. We have shared further information about this day, its history, themes and significance here.

World Hearing Day 2023

World Hearing Day is concerned with the advocacy of hearing aid and devices. Recognized by the World Health Organization, this day is also concerned with raising awareness about the prevention of deafness in people. World Hearing Day was first celebrated in 2007 and has been celebrated every year since.

Check out the brief overview of World Hearing Day 2023 here:

Day

World Hearing Day

Celebrated

March 3 (every year)

Established By

World Health Organization

World Hearing Day 2023 Theme

Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality

Aim of the Day

To promote awareness about hearing loss prevention and deafness care.

World Hearing Day 2023 Theme

Every year, the WHO chooses a theme for World Hearing Day and creates pamphlets and other campaign materials, such as posters and banners. The World Health Organization also hosts an annual conference on this day to raise awareness. The World Hearing Day 2023 theme is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality”.

On World Hearing Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) hopes to emphasise that prompt and appropriate care can help persons with hearing loss reach their full potential.

Previous Year’s World Hearing Day Themes

Here are some of the previous year’s themes of World Hearing Day:

  • World Hearing Day 2022 theme - “To hear for life, listen with care.”
  • World Hearing Day 2021 theme - "Hearing Care for All."
  • World Hearing Day 2020 theme - "Hearing for Life, Don't Let Hearing Loss Limit You."
  • World Hearing Day 2019 theme - "Check your hearing."
  • World Hearing Day 2018 theme - "Hear the future."
  • World Hearing Day 2017 theme - “Action for hearing loss: make a sound investment.”
  • World Hearing Day 2016 theme - “Childhood hearing loss: act now, here is how!”
  • World Hearing Day 2015 theme - “Make Listening Safe.”

Significance of World Hearing Day

World Health Organization first organized World Hearing Day in 2007. Here is why this day is considered significant:

  • The goal of World Hearing Day is to create global awareness about how to avoid deafness and hearing loss and promote hearing care.
  • Hearing aids and other measures that can help with hearing loss are not widely available.
  • People will be more connected to each other and the world if they have good hearing health and communicate well.
  • With proper and timely interventions, those with hearing loss can access education, employment, and communication.

World Hearing Day - About Hearing Loss

World Hearing Day is observed every year to make more people aware of deafness and partial hearing loss. Hearing loss affects an estimated 466 million individuals worldwide or nearly 6.1 per cent of the global population. Furthermore, approximately 1 billion young individuals aged 12 to 35 are at risk of hearing loss due to recreational exposure to loud sounds.

What is hearing loss, and what causes it?

If a person can't hear and someone with normal hearing, they are said to have hearing loss or deafness. Hearing loss can affect one or both ears and can be mild, moderately severe, severe, or extremely severe. On World Hearing Day, we raise awareness about both conditions.

World Hearing Day - Deafness vs. Hard of Hearing

Deafness and hard of hearing are not the same. Let’s check out the primary difference between both of these concepts:

Deafness

Hard of Hearing

When a person suffers severe hearing loss in both ears and cannot hear, they are regarded as "deaf."

The term "hard of hearing" refers to people who have a modest to the severe hearing issue. These individuals are not entirely deaf, but they are unable to hear and someone with normal hearing.

World Hearing Day - Hearing Aids

One of the primary objectives of World Hearing Day is to raise awareness about hearing aids and devices. Many strategies help people with untreatable hearing loss hear and communicate effectively. Hearing aids, cochlear implants, auditory training, speech and language therapy, and other assistive equipment are among them.

World Hearing Day - WHO Initiatives

The WHO has taken several initiatives to impact several lives on World Hearing Day. Some of the initiatives include:

  • Working on ear care to promote Integrated People-Centred Ear and Hearing Care.
  • Integrating efforts to prevent deafness.
  • Their actions are based on the WHO World Report and the resolution by the World Health Assembly.
  • They propagate the cause and gather support for World Hearing Day through the World Hearing Forum.

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FAQs About World Hearing Day

Q1. When is World Hearing Day celebrated?

World Hearing Day is celebrated on March 3 annually. This day is celebrated to promote deafness prevention advice and care. World Hearing Day is an initiative of the Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organization.

Q2. What is the theme of World Hearing Day 2023?

World Hearing Day 2023 theme is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality”. Every year, a new theme is announced for World Hearing Day by the World Health Organization. This year’s theme is a subtle call to action to encourage people to invest in hearing care and protection.

Q3. When did World Hearing Day start?

World Hearing Day started in 2007. The Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organization started International Ear Care Day, which was renamed in 2016 as World Hearing Day. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about hearing care and deafness prevention.

Q4. How to celebrate World Hearing Day?

To celebrate World Hearing Day, you can raise awareness about hearing loss prevention and devices used for deafness care. You can also educate yourself about the need to take deafness prevention seriously. Align your celebration with the World Hearing Day 2023 theme, which is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality”.

Q5. What is the theme of World Hearing Day 2022?

World Hearing Day 2022 theme was “To hear for life, listen with care”. This theme was set by the World Health Organization, which organizes World Hearing Day celebrations every year. World Hearing Day 2022 theme focused on helping people realize their own responsibility towards ear care and deafness prevention.