/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/whd2027-annoucement-poster.tmb-549v.jpeg?sfvrsn=130c9c3d_1 "WHD 2027 announcement poster")
Nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20 and above are living with some degree of hearing loss.
World Hearing Day 2027
3 March
NMH/NSO
The sounds of everyday life shape our daily listening experiences.
The sounds of everyday life shape our daily listening experiences.
©
Credits
Theme
Hearing loss doesn't wait. Neither should you.
Know the signs. Check your hearing!
World Hearing Day 2027 draws attention towards adults living with or at risk of hearing loss. Hearing loss, when unaddressed, impacts many aspects of adult life. It increases the odds of unemployment or underemployment, contributes to social isolation, and is among the leading risk factors of declining cognitive health/dementia. The good news is that adult hearing loss can be prevented and addressed. World Hearing Day 2027 will focus on how this can be done and why its important to do so.
Key messages
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/four-human-figures-in-a-row.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=70891c_1 "Hearing health in focus")
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/illustration-of-ear-and-hearing-care.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=8777e2eb_1 "Ear and hearing care")
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/leadership-for-hearing-health.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=6f9c4e5d_1 "Leadership for hearing health")
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/protect-your-hearing-at-every-age.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=4f8369ef_1 "Protect your hearing at every age")
Hearing loss is commonly gradual in onset and often remains unidentified unless a hearing test is done.
Governments must act by establishing systematic, universal hearing screening programmes for older adults and including hearing devices and services within national UHC benefit packages.
People must act to protect their hearing across the life course and check their hearing regularly.
Hearing loss in adults is commoner than you think
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Why hearing health in adults matters?
- Adults with hearing loss have increased odds of unemployment or underemployment.
- Hearing loss contributes to both social isolation and loneliness at all ages, more specifically in women and older adults.
- Addressing mid-life hearing loss can reduce risk of dementia onset and help maintain good cognitive health.
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/staying-connected-through-hearing.jpeg?sfvrsn=237c081a_4 "Staying connected through hearing")
You could have hearing loss if you:
| Often ask people to repeat themselves Turn up the volume of the radio or television Have difficulty following conversations in noisy places Have difficulty in understanding what is said over the phone Have a ringing sensation in the ear (tinnitus) Have problem in hearing sounds like doorbell, alarm or a telephone ringing Are told by people that you speak loudly |
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/communication-alert-notification-icons.png?sfvrsn=e6f56592_4 "blue communication and notification icons"){kind=icon}
Call for action
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Ministries of Health & Member States
- Establish universal systematic hearing screening for older adults using validated tools
- Organize awareness campaigns to promote safe listening and good ear care.
- Implement hearing conservation programmes for noisy work environments
- Include hearing devices and rehabilitation in universal health coverage packages
- Adopt and implement the WHO global standards for safe listening and carry out awareness campaigns
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Adults
- Practise safe listening habits and good ear care every day.
- Take a self-screening test using the free WHO hearWHO app.
- Know your signs, Check your hearing!
- Get your hearing tested by a professional if you are older than 50 years, have any sign suggestive of hearing loss, or fail the self-screening test.
- Use hearing devices when advised.
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/specs_2030_initiative_meeting.tmb-1920v.jpg?sfvrsn=4039af4c_1 "headphones")
Civil society
- Advocate for the integration of universal hearing screening for older adults, and hearing devices/services, into health benefit packages.
- Promote good ear care and safe listening through awareness campaigns.
- Raise awareness about the importance of identifying and addressing hearing loss early.
- Organize hearing screening events on World Hearing Day 2027.
The hidden cost of doing nothing — and why acting pays off
WHO tools to promote and use this world hearing day
2 March 2023
Primary ear and hearing care: training manual
This manual is a practical guide on the prevention, identification, and management of hearing loss and common ear diseases that lead to hearing loss. It...
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/iconhearwho.tmb-1920v.jpeg?sfvrsn=7d1e9236_1 "HearWHO")
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/tan-egg-headphones-logo.tmb-479v.png?sfvrsn=580d664d_1 "egg with make listening safe-transparent 2"){kind=logo}
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/egg-with-make-listening-safe-transparent-2.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=921b18d7_1 "egg with make listening safe-transparent 2")
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/hearing-screening-at-the-clinic.tmb-1920v.png?sfvrsn=e1b04a85_1 "WHOears slides cover")
hearWHO
For all adults 20+
WHOears
For health workers & ministries
Make Listening Safe
For young adults, employers of venues & event organizers
Training in Assistive Products (TAP)
For rehabilitation providers
Free mobile and web-based self-screening app based on validated digits-in-noise technology. Listen to number sequences played against background noise and get an instant score you can track over time.
English-Chinese-Spanish-Russian- Portuguese - Dutch on iOS and Android.WHO's free tone-based hearing screening application for tablets, built for trained health workers in community and primary health care settings. Follows a standardised, step-by-step protocol for anyone aged five and above. Available on iOS and Android.
WHO's global initiative to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, particularly relevant for the 20–44 age group. Includes the WHO–ITU Global Standard for safe listening devices and systems, the Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events, Global Standard for video gameplay and the mSafeListening handbook.
Supporting training for rehabilitation access for adults with diagnosed hearing loss.
Ear and hearing care for all adults!
Check your hearing today!
Highlights