Hearing Care is an Important Part of Overall Health
As a member of the World Hearing Forum of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is proud to support World Hearing Day (WHD) on March 3, 2024. WHD is an annual observance to raise awareness of hearing health across the globe. This year’s theme is “Changing Mindsets.”
On February 28, HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley spoke at an event at the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to educate policy makers on the importance of broadening access to hearing care.
read our press release
Did You Know…?
- Globally, more than 1 billion people (15% of the population) have some degree of hearing loss
- By 2050, this number is expected to double to 2.5 billion, according to the WHO
- One billion young adults are at risk of preventable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices
- Hearing loss affects more than 50 million in the United States, or 1 in 7 Americans
- Many people with hearing loss are never tested or treated
The theme of this year’s World Hearing Day is “Changing Mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!” to improve access to treatment—an important part of HLAA’s mission. Help us share our message to Protect – Check – Treat your hearing regularly.
Make Hearing Care a Priority!
- Protect your hearing in noisy environments
- Check your hearing regularly
- Treat a hearing loss as soon as possible
HLAA and ASHA Join Forces
HLAA is once again partnering with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to spread the word about the importance of ear and hearing healthcare for people of all ages.
OTC Hearing Aids
In 2022, the FDA cleared the way for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids to be available for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, without a prescription. Before you buy, be sure to consult our our resources, including a consumer tip sheet and shopping list, and join our free HearingU OTC 101 Ask the Experts Webinar Series.