World Hearing Day is annually observed across the globe on 3rd March to raise awareness on the prevention of deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
The theme of World Hearing Day 2022 is “To hear for life, listen with care”.
- Annually, The World Health Organization(WHO) decides the theme and develops evidence-based advocacy materials for World Hearing Day.
Background:
i.‘Beijing Declaration’ adopted during the 1st International Conference on Prevention and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment held in Beijing, China in 2007, recommended establishing “International Ear Care Day,” for promoting global actions on hearing care.
ii.The conference was jointly hosted by the China Rehabilitation Research Centre for Deaf Children (CRRCDC), Beijing, China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), Beijing and WHO.
iii.The International Ear Care Day was first held in 2007.
iv.In 2016, the International Ear Care Day was renamed as “World Hearing Day”.
Launches on World Hearing Day 2022:
i.WHO estimates that around 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 years across the globe are at risk of hearing loss due to sound exposure in recreational settings. To address this WHO as a part of its Make Listening Safe initiative, developed the “WHO Global Standard For Safe Listening Venues & Events”.
- This provides a common understanding of safe listening in entertainment venues and events.
- The Standard comprises six “features”, which will allow the audience across the globe to enjoy amplified music with the protection of their hearing.
- The 6 features are; Sound level limit; Monitoring the sound level; Venue acoustics and Sound system design; Personal hearing protection; Quiet Zones; Provision of training and information.
ii.WHO has also released ‘mSafeListening handbook’ which provides evidence-based message libraries for the promotion of safe listening behaviours and prevention of hearing loss.
About World Health Organization(WHO):
Director-General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
