World Hearing Day
March 2026
World Hearing Day is held on March 3rd every year, but we should be taking care of our ears everyday!
But what is World Hearing Day?
This is a campaign held each year by the Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organization. It raises awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, as well as promote ear and hearing care across the world.
Globally, more than 1.5 billion people experience some degree of hearing loss. Of these, an estimated 430 million have disabling hearing loss, a number that could rise to over 700 million by 2050.
If unaddressed, hearing loss negatively impacts communication, cognition, education, employment, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.
Hearing loss can make it difficult to understand speech, especially in noisy situations. This means people with hearing loss may withdraw from social situations and may feel isolated and depressed.
How Does Hearing Loss Affect Older Adults?
The prevalence of disabling hearing loss increases exponentially with age. In the US, about 1 in 3 adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss, and the numbers increase above 75.
People with hearing loss also have a greater risk of falls, and of developing dementia. The greater the hearing loss, the higher the risk. However, even those with mild hearing loss have double the risk of dementia compared to those with typical hearing.
Care of the Ears: Important Dos and Donts
DO:
If you suspect someone has hearing loss, refer them to urgently see a health worker
Get help from a health worker or doctor in case of persistent ear problems
Only use medications in your ears that have been prescribed to you
DONT:
Put anything in the ear. No cotton buds, clips, toothpicks, etc.
Remember that wax is produced by the ear and keep it clean. Cotton buds may push wax further into the ear and damage the eardrum. Sometimes the cotton may remain behind as a foreign object!
Ignore an ear that has any pus or fluid coming out of it
Swim or wash in dirty water
Listen to very loud noises or music for long periods of time
Supporting People with Hearing Loss
Speak clearly and slowly. Don’t shout!
Stand in good lighting and face the person so they can see your face when you speak
Do not exaggerate or distort lip movements as this might make it harder for the person to follow what is being said
Try to keep background noise to a minimum, as loud background noise can make it difficult for someone with hearing loss to hear, even with a hearing aid
If there is a hard of hearing person in a group, ensure people talk one at a time. This enables the hard of hearing person to be included in conversations.