All South Africans have been called to join the global community in commemorating World Hearing Day on Monday.
World Hearing Day, which is celebrated annually on 3 March, aims to raise awareness about deafness and hearing and to promote access to ear and hearing care.
The day highlights a specific theme on which the World Health Organisation and its partners carry out activities based on the theme.
This year’s World Hearing Day theme, “Changing mindsets: Empower yourself”, builds on the 2024 focus on changing mindsets towards ear and hearing care.
Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities spokesperson, Cassius Selala, said that hearing was fundamental to communication, education, employment, and overall well-being.
“If it is left unaddressed, hearing loss can hinder speech development, academic progress, and economic opportunities. It can also lead to social isolation, stigma, and reduced quality of life.
“Hearing impairment (HI) is a silent planetary health crisis that requires attention worldwide. The prevalence of HI in South Africa is estimated at 5.5 in 100 live births, which is about five times higher than the prevalence in high-income countries,” Selala said.
According to the World Report on Hearing 2022, approximately four million people with a hearing disability live in South Africa. However, less than 600 000 South Africans use South African Sign Language, which accounts for just 0.02% of the country’s population, according to Census 2022.
Urgent interventions needed
Selala warned that without urgent interventions, hearing loss, particularly among vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, will continue to rise, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare access across the continent.
“It is estimated that by 2030, over 500 million people are expected to have disabling hearing loss, which will also require rehabilitation. Over the years, one billion young people will also face the risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during recreational pastimes, such as listening to music and video game play,” Selala said.
Addressing hearing impairment
To address the growing challenge of hearing impairment, the department is advocating for several key actions, and these include:
• Improve access to ear and hearing care, especially in underserved communities.
• Combat stigma and misperceptions about hearing loss through education and awareness campaigns.
• Strengthen national policies to integrate hearing care into primary healthcare
systems.
• Expand training programmes to increase the number of skilled hearing care
professionals.
• Invest in infrastructure and assistive devices, ensuring that hearing aids, cochlear implants and other technologies are available and affordable for those who need them.
Selala urged individuals of all ages to empower themselves, to ensure healthy ears and hearing for themselves and others.
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