Each year on the 3rd of March, organisations and groups across the World come together to acknowledge World Hearing Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about hearing loss, and promote ear and hearing care for all.
For 2025, the theme “Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself to Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All” highlights the importance of shifting perceptions around hearing health and ensuring access to care for everyone—regardless of their work environment.
This year the mission and messages are more important than ever. The World we live in is increasingly dependent on communication, and it’s great to see more and more attention being given to ear and hearing health each year; it’s an area of health and wellbeing that has been routinely overlooked in previous years.
The importance of hearing for our health and wellbeing
Our hearing is so important to help us communicate and socialise with people. Good hearing allows for effective communication which is vital not only in the workplace, but also in everyday life. At work we need to be able to hear verbal instructions and work well as part of a team. If there is a change in our hearing and no appropriate adjustments are made, there’s a risk of miscommunication which leads to errors, and decreased productivity.
Looking after our ears and hearing is also important when it comes to socialising with others, whether that be at work, at home with family, or spending time with friends. Being able to be an active part of a conversation really helps our mental wellbeing. If we can’t hear well, we find we can become isolated and sit out of conversations more often, which can eventually lead us to not taking part at all. This can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, which shows why our hearing is such an important part of our overall health and wellbeing, and we must do more to look after it.
There is still a stigma attached to hearing loss and struggling to hear. However, continued campaigns to raise awareness and knowledge about ears and hearing can only help, as we’ll know more about it if it happens to us, and we’ll be able to empathise with – and assist – others where necessary. It’s important that upon discovery of hearing loss, regardless of the cause or the person’s age, appropriate changes are made in the workplace by the employer to ensure the employee doesn’t feel stigmatised, and can continue working effectively.
How we can take action at all ages, all year round
How we hear in the future depends on how we care for our ears today. Many cases of hearing loss can be avoided through the adoption of safe listening habits and good hearing care practices. For those who have a hearing loss, early identification and access to timely assistance are essential to them achieving their highest potential.
We need to start discussing healthy hearing habits to ensure we’re looking after our hearing as best we can. This is especially important within the workplace, as many of us are using headphones and headsets for phone calls, meetings, or to listen to music whilst working.
Employees need to be aware of the potential harm to their hearing with regular overuse of headsets and headphones, and ensure they’re taking the recommended 5 minutes break per 60 minutes of listening. This allows the ears and the brain to take a break from being constantly used, and minimise the risk of fatigue.
It shouldn’t just be awareness and education for ourselves, but for all generations. We need to promote healthy hearing habits to encourage younger generations to think about how they can protect their hearing in the long term. With regular gaming and use of tablets and mobile phones continually rising from earlier ages, we need younger friends and families to think about how often they are using headsets, and the importance of taking regular breaks.
Workplaces are a great place to integrate hearing health and wellbeing checks, as there is often a wide range of ages amongst employees. Looking after hearing is typically an afterthought; something we only need to act on once we have a problem. Statistically, this is more likely to affect older people, but hearing health affects everybody, and can change at any age.
This World Hearing Day we are looking at encouraging people to start monitoring their hearing health from a younger age, to realise how important their hearing is. We don’t want to encourage hearing loss earlier in life through bad habits, when there are simple ways to help ourselves.
This being said, all generations need exposure to the discussions around the importance of hearing health, and have awareness of how they can help themselves. Employers can help their employees feel supported by providing regular hearing tests, to help the younger generation understand that healthy hearing is just as much for them as it is for others around them. This helps to provide much needed inclusivity in the workplace, as well as letting employers show their genuine support for their employees’ wellbeing and making hearing health a priority.
Being proactive to look after our future ears and hearing includes:
- Getting regular hearing checks
- Being aware of our listening practices and remembering the importance of regular breaks
- Requesting additional support or adjustment in the workplace
- Taking additional help, including exploring use of hearing aids, if appropriate
Being aware of how we’re using our ears on a daily basis, and understanding how our daily activities can affect our hearing allows us to make sensible decisions for our health, aimed at maintaining optimum hearing health for as long as possible. This knowledge and awareness, coupled with testing our hearing regularly is the best way to maintain our ear health.
Why employers should be providing hearing tests to their employees:
Hearing health shouldn’t be a preventative measure limited strictly to noisy industries, nor should it be a service available solely for employees who are regularly exposed to loud noise.
Sound and noise affects us all in a world where headphone use is increasing, workforces are ageing, and as there are strong ties between hearing capability and mental health. We can all do our part in helping raise awareness of the importance of hearing. Through having hearing tests in quieter workplaces, employers are demonstrating a proactive approach to healthcare and a genuine commitment for their employees’ wellbeing.
Regular hearing tests are the only way to truly understand our hearing capabilities, and identify any changes on a timely basis, however it is not always convenient for employees to arrange individual appointments around work commitments.
Having hearing tests at work allow for employees to take less time out of their work day when compared to arranging their own appointments. The immediate results from the hearing test will help to guide on any necessary next steps that may be required.
Employers who are a part of the mindset shift from being reactive about hearing health, to being proactive about hearing health, show they really care about their employees. This can help reduce staff turnover as the employees know they’re being actively supported.
A lot of people either won’t realise their hearing has changed, or put off having their hearing checked. Providing hearing tests in the workplace, along with taking up minimal time, gives easier access to preventative healthcare, and also helps reduces the stigma associated with having hearing checked as other colleagues can encourage each other to participate in the checks.
Here are a few more reasons why employers should be supporting employees’ hearing health:
- Early Detection and Prevention
Many hearing issues develop gradually, making them difficult to notice until they become severe. Regular hearing tests allow for early intervention, which can prevent further deterioration and improve long term outcomes. - Enhanced Productivity and Focus
Employees experiencing hearing difficulties may struggle with communication, concentration, and engagement in workplace activities. Identifying and addressing hearing issues can lead to improved efficiency and collaboration. - Employee Wellbeing and Inclusivity
Providing hearing tests demonstrates a commitment to employee health and inclusivity. It ensures that those with hearing impairments receive appropriate support, such as assistive devices or modified communication strategies.
What are the possible adaptations to workplaces employers can make to support hearing health?
In-person, regular hearing tests for employees provide a great opportunity to discuss any difficulties in hearing situations at work, or any areas within the workplace where hearing is harder.
This allows employers to receive anonymous feedback about where hearing situations can be improved, and suggestions from staff to make them feel more supported and boost morale. Even small and simple changes such as creating quiet work zones, or encouraging staff to walk across to colleagues to talk rather than shout across the office, or regular breaks from headset use, can help create provide a positive working space.
Detailed assessments can also be carried out to identify whether any workplace or resource adjustments could be made to ensure employees are hearing the best they can.
A call to action
World Hearing Day is a crucial reminder of the often overlooked importance of ear and hearing health, particularly in non-noisy workplaces. This year’s theme around ‘Changing Mindsets’ continues to emphasise the need for a shift in the perception of hearing health, promoting proactive ear care for everyone, regardless of their work setting.
From encouraging healthy hearing habits and regular hearing tests, to identifying and implementing adjustments in the workplace, there are numerous ways individuals and businesses can prioritise hearing health.
Employers, regardless of their industry, can play a vital role in this effort by providing access to hearing tests, promoting awareness, and creating a supportive environment in which their employees can thrive.
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