World Hearing Day is an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness among the public about hearing-related disorders. On this occasion, WHO reiterates the advice to follow for preventing hearing impairments.
Who is affected ?
According to a study conducted by the WHO, nearly 466 million people worldwide suffer from disabling hearing loss. This figure could rise to 630 million people by 2030 and 900 million people by 2050.
Several factors can explain this increase:
Exposure to loud noises
Genetic factors
Infectious diseases
Chronic infections
Ototoxicity
Head trauma
Aging
Does hearing loss only affect elderly individuals ?
The answer is no! According to the WHO, 1.1 billion young people aged 12 to 35 are at risk of hearing damage due to exposure to high sound intensities. Indeed, nearly half of them would be exposed to dangerous sound levels due to prolonged use of earphones and/or headphones. 40% of them would be exposed to intensities that could cause hearing damage due to their attendance at venues with excessively loud music (bars, nightclubs, festivals, etc.).
Can hearing impairments be prevented ?
Yes! Half of all cases of deafness could be avoided by taking a few measures.
Here are some simple prevention tips outlined by the WHO:
Reduce exposure to intense noise by raising awareness of risks through:
Adopting and enforcing appropriate legislative measures
Encouraging individuals to use personal protective devices, such as earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds
Refer high-risk children (those with family history of deafness, low birth weight, birth asphyxia, jaundice, meningitis, etc.) to a competent service to check their hearing, establish a quick diagnosis, and treat them.
Vaccinate children and adolescents against infectious diseases.
Screen for chronic infections and apply medical or surgical treatment.
Avoid using certain medications that can be dangerous.
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More information about World Hearing Day on the WHO website: