Hearing Health Matters: Celebrating World Hearing Day
In this blog article, our Ambassador Beth Wooller explores the theme for World Hearing Day on 3rd March 2025 and why it matters for everyone.
I have a congenital, permanent hearing loss since birth, and have experienced a decline in my hearing during my adult life. I share the small changes people can make to protect their hearing and address hearing loss early, and the low cost changes businesses can make to ensure their environments are inclusive.
Introduction to World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day is held on 3rd March each year to raise awareness of how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. The theme for 2025 is “Changing Mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!" With this, the campaign aims to inspire people of all ages to take steps to ensure good hearing throughout life, including;
- Protecting their hearing from loud sounds to help prevent hearing loss
- Checking their hearing regularly
- Using hearing devices if needed
- Supporting those living with hearing loss
But why is it so important?
According to the World Health Organisation, by 2030 over 500 million people are expected to have disabling hearing loss requiring rehabilitation. It estimates that over 100 billion young people face the risk of hearing loss through prolonged exposure to loud sounds due to activities including listening to music and gameplay.
Looking after our ears today is crucial to how we will hear in the future. Studies have also shown that hearing plays a significant role in our cognitive health. Yet people may not notice the effects of noise-induced hearing loss until years after first exposure to loud noise. Taking steps now to limit our exposure can prevent noise-induced hearing loss. While there is no cure, hearing aids can help people to hear better in everyday situations.
Hearing Loss: Causes and risks
There are many causes of hearing loss and deafness. Some types of hearing loss are treatable, such as earwax build up. Meanwhile, inherited genetic conditions, infections such as measles, meningitis and middle ear infections, and head and neck injuries can cause permanent hearing loss.
The two most common causes, however, are ageing (the biggest cause of hearing loss) and exposure to loud noises (either steadily over time or through exposure to a sudden extremely high decibel sound, such as a gunshot).
Being around loud sounds can damage the cells of the inner ear. These hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea send sound signals to the brain. Damaged or missing hairs or nerve cells don’t send electrical signals as well and this causes hearing loss. This is often irreversible, making prevention essential.
A decibel is a unit used to measure how loud sound is. Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, meaning a 10 dB increase represents a ten-fold increase in sound intensity – making even small changes in decibels significant. A sound at 70 decibels is not twice as loud as 35 dB but exponentially more intense.
According to health experts, noise above 70 decibels (a busy street, vacuum cleaner or dishwasher running) over time can start to damage hearing. Just 15 minutes exposed to sound over 100 dB (think rock concerts, clubs, fireworks, jet engines) can risk permanent damage to hearing.
Historically, prolonged exposure to loud sounds would likely have been caused by your occupation. However, our lifestyle and hobbies outside of work now often pose increased risks of exposure to loud sounds over 85 dB – whether in using headphones to listen to music or for gaming, or in places with loud ambient noise when undertaking leisure pursuits – be it in shops, restaurants, tourism and leisure venues, and gyms.
For example, I have been to exercise classes at gyms where sounds are routinely above 100 dB (measured on my iWatch). Regular attendance risks repeated exposure to noise for prolonged periods of time, yet often I am the only person wearing earplugs. With my existing hearing loss, I may be more vulnerable to the impacts of further loss, but others may not realise the impact (as they won’t have their hearing routinely tested) until it’s too late. For good hearing health it is crucial for everyone to take steps to protect their ears.
The power of prevention – tips for protecting your ears
There are many small changes people can make to help protect their hearing and keep hearing loss from ageing from getting worse:
- Protect your ears: Staying away from loud noise is the best protection. In the workplace or noisy environments, earplugs or earmuffs can reduce noise exposure by 15-30dB and help protect hearing. Taking breaks from the noise and turning the volume down when listening to music also helps. Many smartphones offer a volume limit setting which helps prevent accidental exposure to high volumes (limit to 50-60% of maximum capacity)
- Have your hearing tested: If you are regularly exposed to loud noise, or think your hearing has deteriorated, consider regular hearing tests. If you have lost some hearing, these steps will help prevent further loss. The RNID provides a free, 3 minute online hearing test. You can book your onliine test here.
- Avoid higher risk hobbies: activities with an increased risk of blows to the head or sudden changes in pressure, such as snowboarding, scuba diving, and contact sports, can risk damage to hearing. Reducing exposure where possible and wearing the correct head protection (such as helmets, scrum caps) is recommended.
Technology and hearing: innovations in hearing aids and assistive devices
Treating hearing loss is a powerful tool to protect cognitive decline. Studies have shown that wearing a hearing aid nearly halves mental decline in people at risk of dementia. Innovations in hearing aids and accessories can greatly improve quality of life and enhance the accessibility of spaces. A few examples include:
- Hearing aids with Bluetooth capability – many newer models are now much smaller and less noticeable, and allow you to adjust ambient noise levels from your mobile phone, answer the phone or tune sound from the television or hearing loop directly through the aid for better audibility
- Doorbells that trigger a flashing light when pressed, or alert the user via their mobile device
- Vibrating or flashing alarm clocks
- Deaf friendly fire and smoke alarms that flash or vibrate as well as making a noise
Raising awareness and advocacy: adjustments businesses can make to be more inclusive
With over 18 million (or one in three) adults in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, there is much that employers and businesses can do to aid hearing and create more inclusive environments for all. Most accessible solutions are affordable and easy to implement and not only a legal requirement but enhance the happiness of all customers. Three examples which can make the greatest difference include;
- Having a designated quiet area (for example on trains): Public buildings, restaurants and cafes can be noisy spaces making it difficult to communicate clearly. To overcome this, designated quite areas can help. Limit the number of people allowed in this area and switch off or minimise music to keep noise levels low. Consider the design and layout of the area, including soundproofing walls and windows, to reduce echo. Ensure that this area is well lit so that deaf people can easily lip-read. This can help those with hearing loss as well as those with sensory issues
- Having clear visual signals: Do not rely on announcements to communicate with customers. Display audio announcements on screens and include subtitles on video content
- Installing induction loops: This is a special system used by many hearing aid users as it transfers a sound source directly to a hearing aid without background noise. Installing induction loops and ensuring they are switched on and maintained can not only improve communication but ensure businesses are legally compliant with the 2010 Equality Act.
By adopting safe listening practices now and identifying and taking steps to address hearing loss early, we can ensure good hearing and cognitive health throughout our lives.
You can find out more about hearing loss here.
Beth was born with a moderate-severe hearing impairment in both ears. Her credits include working with national and local newspapers, featuring on TV and live radio, and attending Parliament to make a case for more efficient Access to Work processes. She has also presented as a keynote speaker and panellist for businesses, and is dedicated to helping people with disabilities to excel in life with the proper support at the right time. Beth was recently appointed as a Disability and Access Ambassador for Retail as part of the government's Disability and Access Ambassadors programme, managed by the Disability Unit.