World Hearing Day (March 3): Theme, Significance, History, FAQs
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World Hearing Day: History, Significance, Objectives
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
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.
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.
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: When a person suffers severe hearing loss in both ears and cannot hear, they are regarded as “deaf.”
- Hard of Hearing: 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.
Q. 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.
Q. 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.
Q. 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”.