World Hearing Day is held on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
In Australia:
- Hearing loss is costing Australia $15 billion a year in health system costs and lost productivity
- Hearing loss affects 70% of people over the age of 70 and it has a huge impact on the quality of life
- It is more common than heart disease, cancer and diabetes
- 500,000 hearing aids are bought every year in Australia
- 10,000 people whose first language is Auslan cannot be left behind and deserve better access to education, jobs & community life
On World Hearing Day 2022, the World Health Organization will focus on the importance of safe listening as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course. The theme “To hear for life, listen with care” will focus on the importance and means of hearing loss prevention through safe listening, with the following key messages:
- It is possible to have good hearing across the life course through ear and hearing care
- Many common causes of hearing loss can be prevented, including hearing loss caused by exposure to loud sounds
- ‘Safe listening’ can mitigate the risk of hearing loss associated with recreational sound exposure
- WHO calls upon governments, industry partners and civil society to raise awareness for and implement evidence-based standards that promote safe listening
For more information and resources related to World Hearing Day, visit the World Hearing Organisation website.
#safelistening #worldhearingday #hearingcare
Events happening during Hearing Awareness Week
- Safe listening tips
- March 3: ‘You CAN Ask That’ World Hearing Day Webinar
- March 3: Studio 10 interview with Telethon Speech & Hearing CEO, Mark Fitzpatrick
- Leon Dean’s hearing journey
- March 6: ABC Radio National interview with our CEO, Mark Fitzpatrick
