The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated March 3, 2020 as World Hearing Day 2020. It is an effort to highlight that timely and effective interventions can ensure that people with hearing loss are able to achieve their full potential. It will benefit many people if it can draw attention to the options available for those with hearing loss.
A person is said to have hearing loss if they are not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing. Normal hearing is defined as hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears. It can be mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or profound, and can affect one or both ears. Hearing loss has multiple potential causes: genetic factors, complications at birth, infectious disease, chronic ear infections, usage of certain drugs, exposure to excessive noise, and aging.
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.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of our audiologists who can help you with your hearing problem, please contact us at 415-927-1567.
