Reducing hearing loss through safe listening: An initiative of the World Health Organization

Abstract

Globally, over one billion people are estimated to be at risk of hearing loss due to the common practice of listening to loud sounds in recreational settings. Given the current situation and projected rise in need for hearing care over the coming decades, prevention of hearing loss has become an urgent public health need. To address this, WHO, in 2015, launched the Make Listening Safe initiative. Focused on adolescents and young adults, this aims at raising awareness among this group about the need for and the means of safe listening. At the same time, it works to influence societal and political change so as to facilitate the practice of safe listening. Toward this end, WHO is working to ensure that personal devices such as smartphones and MP3 players include safe listening features and that entertainment venues can create a safe listening environment. Through this talk, WHO will share information of its evidence-based recommendations for safe listening, as well as efforts to promote their implementation.