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O World Hearing Day, which is celebrated on March 3, is a campaign carried out annually by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim of sharing information and promoting actions for the prevention of hearing loss and improvement of hearing care. Each year, WHO selects a theme for this campaign, and so in this year 2021 it is:Hearing care for all".

The WHO announced the launch of the 1st World Hearing Report on 3 March 2021, which will include tools and literature for the implementation or improvement of hearing-related care services.

Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide. Some of the possible causes of hearing loss are aging, exposure to excessive noise, genetic problems, infectious diseases and the use of certain ototoxic drugs. However, according to the WHO, half of all cases of hearing loss could be prevented by changing small routine habits:

Avoiding noise One of the most common causes of hearing loss is exposure to excessive noise. Therefore, the best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is to avoid being exposed to extremely loud noises. Examples of environments where noise is above 85 dB are concerts, discotheques and sports events. Avoiding Medications that Are Harmful to Hearing Some medications we regularly use such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, are ototoxic, that is, they are potentially harmful to hearing. When taken in large dosages and for a long period of time, they pose a risk to hearing health. You should always check with your doctor if the medicine you are prescribed can cause damage to your hearing.

Use appropriate and correct headphones WHO estimates that one billion young people will suffer from hearing loss in the future due to incorrect or excessive use of headphones. In order not to impair hearing, the headphones with noise cancellation should be privileged, do not exceed the use of one hour in a row and do not use the devices at more than 60% of the maximum volume.

Dry your ears Excessive moisture in the ears can cause bacteria to settle and cause damage to the ear canal. Always dry your ears carefully after bathing or swimming. If you feel like you have water in your ears, tilt your head and let the water out. You can also use specific tampons for swimming.

Do not use swabs Using swabs to clean the ears is discouraged by hearing health professionals. By placing an object inside the ear canal, you run the risk of damaging sensitive parts, such as the eardrum, and causing hearing loss. If you have too much wax in your ears, you should gently wipe your outer ear with a damp towel or consult a hearing health professional.

Do Auditory Check Ups Finally, you should have a hearing check-up as part of your annual health check-up, especially if you are exposed to noise on a daily basis or are over 60 years old. Hearing loss develops gradually and, as such, taking tests annually can allow you to identify the problem at an early stage. Early diagnosis promotes treatment measures as soon as possible.

All these behaviours should be associated with a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and sports.

For more information you can consult the website of the UN and WHO.