It’s up to you to make ear and hearing a reality for all!
World Hearing Day 2025: Prioritizing Ear and Hearing Care in America
— Have you ever noticed that the number 3 looks like an ear? Each year, World Hearing Day is celebrated on the third day of the third month. This is an opportunity to protect our ears and our hearing, to raise awareness of hearing loss and to promote ear and hearing care centered on the person
This year, the WHO/Europe will insist on the need to change the way of considering ear and hearing care, by encouraging everyone, regardless of their age, to adopt a proactive approach in this area and help others do the same. This is the message conveyed by the theme of this year, Changing mentalities: it’s up to you to make ear and hearing a reality for all!
This campaign is an invitation to become aware of the role played by the health of the ear and hearing for well-being and participation in life. Everyone is encouraged to protect their hearing from strong noises, regularly check their hearing, use hearing aids if necessary, and support people with hearing loss. When you are given the means to act, you can help create a change for yourself and for society.
Protecting the Hearing of Future Generations
During World Hearing Day 2025, the WHO will introduce two new tools. The first is a global standard, based on convincing data, for risk-free listening in the field of video games and electronic sports, established by the WHO and the International Telecommunications Union. The second is a module on intelligent listening, to be included in school educational programs. These tools are the result of an observation: children and young people are often exposed to high sound levels during their free time, and simple gestures can protect their hearing.
For example, according to a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 5 children between the ages of 2 to 19 have some form of hearing loss, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures. By incorporating these tools into educational curricula, schools can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the hearing health of the next generation.
When ‘Noisy’ Becomes ‘Too Noisy’
Did you know that the hearing loss caused by high sound levels is irreversible? Practice listening without risk, by adopting habits that will not damage your hearing. To protect your hearing, follow the advice below:
- Lower the volume of your devices. You can use an application to gauge the noise level or manually adjust your device to a safe level.
- Use anti-noise headphones to avoid having to increase the volume of your device in noisy places. Ensure the headphones are well adjusted.
- In noisy places, use earplugs or other hearing protections.
- Avoid keeping too close to high noise sources, such as speakers or machines. If you cannot avoid it, use hearing protections.
- Limit the time spent in noisy places such as bars, concerts and festivals. Give your ears a break. For example, if you are in a noisy place, take a 10-minute break every hour in a quiet location.
- If you’re unsure if the noise is too loud, you can use free applications to check the sound levels. Sounds lower than a pressure level of 80 dB are generally safe. If you don’t have an application, check if you have to speak loudly to be heard by someone who is near you. If so, the volume is too high.
- Monitor the signs of hearing loss, such as ear ringing (tinnitus) or the difficulty in hearing certain sounds or certain conversations. If necessary, consult a professional.
“Each year, we lose millions of hours of listenership simply because people get tired of listening and increase the volume to compensate for their discomfort. Considering a low indoor noise level of 2000 dB is okay,” Pi Linlake, US Military USA peruse in FDA guidance.
Dr. Harvey
Join the Movement
Created in 2015, the Make Listening Safe initiative [Pour une écoute sans risque] launched by the WHO aims to ensure that everyone around the world can enjoy music and other sounds without damaging their hearing. Join this movement and help promote risk-free listening within your local community. Organizations like the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) are working tirelessly to make this a reality, focusing on developing technological solutions and preventive measures.
In 2025, the initiative is expected to reach even more communities, pushing for stricter noise exposure guidelines and collaborating with tech companies to develop safer audio devices. One such collaboration includes Apple’s hearing health initiative, which combines hardware and software to provide real-time monitoring and alerts.
Counterarguments and Misconceptions
Critics might argue that excessive noise is an inevitable part of modern life and that regulating noise levels can hinder public events and music festivals. However, it is essential to emphasize that noise pollution is a public health issue. Studies show that prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to chronic conditions like hypertension and heart disease. By promoting safe listening practices, we can create healthier and more enjoyable environments for everyone.
Conclusion
It is never too early or too late to practice listening without risk and protect your hearing, for today and for tomorrow. Join the global effort to raise awareness and advocate for safer hearing practices. Implement these guidelines in your daily life, and transform your world into a quieter, healthier space.