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World Hearing Day is observed 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.

This year's themse is "Ear and hearing care for all!", which highlights the importance of integrating ear and hearing care within primary care, as an essential component of universal health coverage.

At its headquarters in Geneva, the World Health Organization (WHO) organizes an annual World Hearing Day event. 

Ear and hearing problems are among the most common problems encountered in the community.

According to WHO, over 190 million people in the WHO European Region live with some degree of hearing loss. This figure is projected to rise to over 230 million by 2050. Ear and hearing problems are among the most common health issues, and 60% of them can be identified and addressed at the primary level of care.

Addressing hearing loss can have a positive impact on many aspects of an individual’s life, leading to successful communication and interpersonal relationships; speech, language and cognitive development in children; healthy ageing; education and employment opportunities; and good mental health and well-being.

Hearing loss is expensive for communities, costing the region around 225 billion US dollars annually. Fortunately, most cases can be addressed through cost-effective public health interventions. Integrating ear and hearing care into primary care services is an important step towards addressing preventable hearing loss and reducing the burden associated with untreated hearing loss.

In children, almost 60% of hearing loss occurs due to causes that can be prevented through immunization and improved maternal and neonatal care. In adults, legislation on noise control and safe listening, as well as surveillance of ototoxicity (damage to the hearing system resulting from medicines and chemicals), can reduce the potential for hearing loss. Regular screenings ensure that ear diseases and hearing problems are identified at the earliest possible stage.

Innovative, cost-effective solutions can improve quality of life for people with hearing loss. Millions of adults and children use hearing aids and cochlear implants. Combining the power of technology with accessible environments and inclusive public health strategies can ensure that these benefits reach everyone who needs them, especially those living in underserved and remote areas.

It is essential that the provision of assistive technology is accompanied by appropriate support services and a person-centred approach. For those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, sign languages, subtitles and closed captioning are also valuable options that can further improve their participation in society.