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World Hearing Day 2020! Hearing for life: don’t let hearing loss limit you
On World Hearing Day 2020, WHO highlights that timely and effective interventions can ensure that people with hearing loss are able to achieve their full potential. It will draw attention to the options available in this respect.
Key messages for World Hearing Day 2020:
- At all life stages, communication and good hearing health connect us to each other, our communities, and the world.
- For those who have hearing loss, appropriate and timely interventions can facilitate access to education, employment and communication.
- Globally, there is lack of access to interventions to address hearing loss, such as hearing aids.
- Early intervention should be made available through the health systems.
World Hearing Day 2019: Check your hearing!
FACTS
- 466 million people are estimated to be living with hearing loss (6.1% of the world’s population)
- More than 1 billion young people (12-35 years) are at risk for hearing loss due to recreational exposure to loud sound.
- 750 billion USD is the overall annual cost of unaddressed hearing loss globally.
- 34 million children have disabling hearing loss
- Chronic ear infections are a leading cause of hearing loss
- Nearly 1 out of every 3 people over 65 years are affected by disabling hearing loss
- Noise is a major avoidable cause of hearing loss
- Hearing loss can be caused by occupational noise and the use of ototoxic medications
- People with hearing loss can benefit from devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants
- 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable through public health actions
Strategies for the prevention of hearing loss include:
- Strengthen maternal and child healthcare programmes including immunization
- Implement infant and school-based hearing screening
- Train healthcare professionals in hearing care
- Make hearing devices and communication therapies accessible
- Regulate and monitor the use of ototoxic medicines and environmental noise
- Raise awareness to promote hearing care and reduce stigma
World Hearing Day 2019: Check your hearing!
World Hearing Day 2020
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Make Listening Safe
Make Listening Safe
