The day aims to raise awareness and promotes community-based activities for ear and hearing health. WHO aims to provide technical support to the Member States for development and implementation of national plans for primary ear and hearing care through their primary health care systems.
Hearing loss is the most prevalent sensory disability globally. Over 275 million persons in the world are deaf or hearing impaired.
Major causes of hearing loss include:
chronic infections of the ear;
vaccine preventable diseases, such as rubella, measles, mumps and meningitis;
low birth weight, neonatal jaundice and lack of oxygen at birth;
noise induced hearing loss;
drugs such as gentamicin, streptomycin;
age related hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be largely prevented through public health measures, such as immunization, improved maternal and child health and safe occupational health practices.
