To hear for life, listen with care!
World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. The theme for 2022 is “To hear for life, listen with care“.
To study the attention that is given to the importance and means of hearing loss prevention through safe listening, Wavefront Centre, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) British Columbia Chapter and Vancouver Branch initiated an online survey together to learn the insights from our community. The 165 responses received from the survey have drawn our attention to some very insightful findings:
- 45% of respondents rated the attention that society gives to the preservation of hearing and prevention of hearing loss from noises as ‘Poor’ and 10% rated the attention as being ‘Terrible’
- 83% of respondents reported that there is insufficient information about ways to protect their hearing
- 76% of the respondents indicated that they are ‘Very concerned’ (41%) or ‘Somewhat concerned’ (35%) about protecting their hearing from various noises in everyday life
- 53% of respondents would like to receive updates about recent initiatives to promote and protect hearing health
Some of our clients shared their personal story on hearing loss and their experience with hearing health protection:
“The level of my hearing loss is roughly moderate to severe. It is surely vital that people always stay cautious and aware in consistently checking up on our hearing levels and ensuring to the best of our ability in nurturing our sensitive ears while we can.” – Aadil Alromeshi, client of Wavefront Centre’s Community Outreach Services
“I was born with a mild/moderate hearing loss. Over my lifetime it has progressed significantly and is now severe/profound. When watching television, I prefer to turn on mute and use closed captioning. I know about headphones that protect people from loud noises but can’t really think of other ways to protect hearing other than using closed captioning.” – Adrianne Fitch, client of Wavefront Centre’s Community Outreach Services
“I was born with hearing loss, and have had hearing aids since I was seven or so. I protect my hearing from loud noises by avoiding restaurants and cafes with excessively loud music and poor acoustics. I’m not familiar with other ways to protect my hearing.” – Carl Rosenberg, client of Wavefront Centre’s Community Outreach Services
Did you know?
- 1 in 5 people worldwide live with hearing loss. By 2050, 1 in 4 people are projected to have problems with their hearing.
- 1 in 2 young people globally are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening.
- Good hearing and communication are important at all stages of life.
- Hearing loss (and related ear diseases) can be avoided through preventative actions such as: protection against loud sounds; good ear care practices and immunization.
- Hearing loss (and related ear diseases) can be addressed when identified in a timely manner and with appropriate care.
- People at risk of hearing loss should check their hearing regularly.
- People having hearing loss (or related ear diseases) should seek care from a health care provider. Wavefront Centre has three hearing clinics in the Lower Mainland to provide support. Click here to book your hearing assessment today.
Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one ear or both ears, and may lead to difficulty in hearing conversational speech or loud sounds.
The risk of losing hearing depends on how loud, for how long and how often you are exposed to loud sounds. Check out some common sound levels in decibels below and follow the safe listening instructions when exposed to sounds.
WHO Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events
World Health Organization estimates that over one billion young people globally are at risk of hearing loss due to sound exposure in recreational settings. On March 3, 2022, to address this growing threat of hearing loss, WHO launched the Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events to provide a common understanding of safe listening in entertainment venues and events.
World Report on Hearing
On World Hearing Day 2021, World Health Organization released the World Report on Hearing which was developed in collaboration with experts and stakeholders in the field of ear and hearing care who informed the report’s strategic direction and ensured that it reflects a range of cultural contexts and approaches to hearing care.
2022 World Hearing Day Webinar
As we celebrate the World Hearing Day this year, Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility, with its partners CHHA British Columbia Chapter and Vancouver Branch, is hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 3.
Our international and local panel of speakers will share their clinical or personal knowledge and experience on safe listening. During the session, they will discuss the latest developments concerning safe listening standards and practices, as well as share specific strategies for individuals to protect their hearing. The session is in keeping with the World Hearing Day theme of To hear for life, listen with care!
- When: March 3, 2022 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM PST
- Where: Virtual via Zoom. Webinar will be recorded.
- Language and Accessibility: English, ASL, and CART/Captioning
Panelists (listed with last name in alphabetical order):
- Dr. Masahito Kawamori is the Project Professor at Keio University, Japan, and the Rapporteur of “Multimedia Framework for Digital Health Applications” at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations special agency for Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He is the editor of the WHO-ITU global standard for safe listening devices and systems.
- Hugh McCormack, RAUD is Director of Clinical Operations and Social Enterprise of Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility, has a master’s degree in Audiology from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. He has worked as a Clinical Audiologist with the National Health Service in Edinburgh, with the Auditory Implant Centre in Belfast and as the Clinical Territory Manager for Cochlear for Western Canada.
- Dr. Amarilis Melendez, MD is an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist and Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Santo Tomas, Panamá; Co-Coordinator of the Safe Listening Working Group of the World Hearing Forum; Member of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Association of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2018.
- Connor Stewart is a Community Organizer at Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility. Lived experience as a Hard of Hearing person who was born Deaf, but uses two cochlear implants to hear. Connor is passionate about sharing his journey of hearing loss and empowering others to navigate life with the tools and resources needed to overcome barriers.
Click here to watch the recording of this webinar.