World Hearing Day 2024: a global call to change mindsets
As we approach World Hearing Day on 3 March 2024, the global community is gearing up to embrace its theme of “Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!” Communities across the world will observe the global day, which promotes awareness of hearing loss and advocates for ear care. This year’s theme invites us to rethink our approach to hearing health, given the urgent need for improved access and greater inclusivity.
Hearing loss is a widespread and often underestimated global health issue that affects people of all ages. In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 78 million people are currently living with hearing loss. More than 2 million children aged 0–15 years in the Region are affected by disabling hearing loss and need rehabilitation to mitigate its adverse impacts on their lives. By 2050, it is projected that 194 million people in the Region will have problems with their hearing.
Nearly 80% of people with hearing loss live in low- to middle-income countries, and most of them lack access to necessary interventions. The adverse effects of unaddressed hearing loss extend beyond individuals to affect families, communities and societies as a whole.
Globally, the cost of unaddressed hearing loss – including health care, loss of productivity, and educational challenges – imposes an economic burden of almost US$ 1 trillion a year.