World Hearing Day 2025 is here and this year’s theme is all about “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”

World Hearing Day, observed annually on March 3, is a global initiative established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care. This year, the theme focuses on preventive hearing care, where empowered individuals can drive change within themselves and in society at large!

Hearing is essential for communication and maintaining overall well-being. When hearing loss goes unaddressed, it can impact speech and lead to cognitive decline and social isolation. Beyond personal challenges, it can also affect society by increasing disability rates and reducing opportunities for education and employment.

Hearing loss is defined as a reduced ability to hear sounds compared to someone with normal hearing, with a hearing threshold greater than 20 dB. It can range from mild to profound and may affect one or both ears. When hearing loss reaches more than 35 dB, it is considered disabling, impacting communication and daily life.

According to WHO, over 5% of the world's population (or 430 million people) require intervention to address their disabling hearing loss. By 2030, over 500 million people are expected to have disabling hearing loss, and over one billion young people face the risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during such as listening to music and video gameplay.

Hearing loss can occur at any stage of life. In children, it may stem from genetic factors, infections during pregnancy (like rubella), birth complications, or chronic ear infections. In adults, age-related hearing decline, loud noise exposure, and certain ototoxic medications are common causes. The good news? Many cases of hearing loss can be prevented or treated if caught early.

Hearing loss is often preventable with awareness and proper care. Nearly 60% of childhood hearing loss comes from avoidable causes and many adult cases are linked to risks like loud noise exposure and certain medications. Prevention starts with measures like vaccinations, good maternal and childcare practices, and genetic counseling. Protecting hearing at work, practicing safe listening habits, and using medications responsibly can also help reduce the risk.

Early detection of hearing loss is also crucial for effective management. Regular screenings are essential for those at higher risk, including newborns, children, workers exposed to loud noise or chemicals, individuals on certain medications, and older adults. Tools like the 'hearWHO app' increase accessibility to hearing screenings.

World Hearing Day 2025 is a chance for everyone to take simple but meaningful steps to protect their hearing and support those with hearing loss. The campaign encourages everyone to protect their ears from loud sounds, get regular hearing check-ups, use hearing devices when needed, and support others struggling with hearing loss. It also pushes for better access to hearing aids and assistive devices while promoting inclusivity in schools, workplaces, and communities.

On top of that, World Hearing Day 2025 will introduce two exciting initiatives: the WHO-ITU Global Standard for Safe Listening in video games and sports, helping to protect players from harmful noise exposure, and a Smart Listening School Module, designed to teach students safe listening habits as part of their education. These efforts aim to raise awareness and encourage lifelong hearing care from an early age.

Whether sharing information on social media, encouraging friends and family to check their hearing, or joining events and advocacy efforts, every action helps. How we hear in the future depends on the steps we take today. Let's unite to create a world where everyone can experience the full richness of the sound spectrum!

Dr. Zuraini Mohammad Nasir

Senior Medical Lecturer

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date of Input: 03/03/2025 | Updated: 03/03/2025 | nadia_rahman