World Hearing Day
A global day organized by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of hearing loss prevention and encourage early screening and ear care.
Date3 March
TopicHealth
Established2007
Ways to observe this day
- Book a hearing check-up for yourself or a family member, especially children and older adults
- Lower headphone volume and give your ears regular breaks from noise
- Share information about early signs of hearing loss with people around you
- Avoid prolonged exposure to loud sounds at concerts or noisy workplaces
The World Health Organization organizes World Hearing Day every March 3. The observance began in 2007 as "International Ear Care Day," following the Beijing Declaration issued at the first international conference on the prevention and rehabilitation of hearing impairment, before WHO adopted its current name, World Hearing Day, in 2016. The date 3/3 was chosen because the digits resemble a pair of ears.
The day raises awareness that hearing loss affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and that a large share of cases can be prevented or treated if detected early — through vaccination, protecting ears from loud noise, or regular screening, especially for newborns and older adults. Health ministries and medical associations around the world mark the occasion with free hearing screening campaigns, workshops on the safe use of headphones and phones, and educational talks aimed at families and schools.
