World Hearing Day 2025 (3 March)

Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!

You can take steps today to ensure good hearing health throughout life.

Did you ever notice that the number 3 looks like an ear? Every year, World Hearing Day is celebrated on the third day of the third month. It is an opportunity to protect our ears and hearing, raise awareness of hearing loss, and promote person-centred ear and hearing care.

This year, WHO/Europe will highlight the need to change how people think about ear and hearing care – encouraging everyone, regardless of age, to be proactive about their ear and hearing health and help others to do the same. This is at the heart of this year’s theme, “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all”.

The campaign encourages people to see the role of ear and hearing health in well-being and participation in life. WHO/Europe encourages everyone to take steps to protect their hearing from loud noises, check their hearing regularly, use hearing devices if needed, and support those who have hearing loss. When people are empowered, they can help to create change for themselves and for society.

Protecting the hearing of future generations

WHO will introduce 2 new tools on World Hearing Day 2025. The first one is a global evidence-based standard for safe listening in video games and e-sports, created by WHO and the International Telecommunication Union. The second tool is a school module on smart listening for inclusion into educational programmes. These tools recognize that children and young people often are exposed to loud sounds during their free time and that simple actions can protect their hearing.

When loud is too loud

Did you know that hearing loss caused by loud sounds cannot be fixed? Practice safe listening by adopting habits that will not damage your hearing. To protect your hearing, follow the tips listed below.

  • Turn down the volume on your devices. You can use an app to track sound levels or manually adjust your device to a safe level.
  • Use noise-cancelling headphones to reduce the need to turn up the volume on your device in noisy places. Make sure the headphones fit you well.
  • In noisy places, use earplugs or other hearing protection.
  • Avoid standing too close to sources of loud sounds, such as speakers or machinery. If you cannot avoid it, use hearing protection.
  • Limit time spent in loud places like bars, concerts and festivals. Give your ears a break from noise. For example, if you are in a loud place, take a 10-minute break in a quiet area every hour.
  • Not sure if the noise is too loud? You can use free apps to check sound levels. Sounds below a pressure level of 80 dB are usually safe. If you don’t have an app, check if you have to speak loudly to be heard by someone standing close to you. If you do, the volume is too high.
  • Watch for signs of hearing loss like ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or trouble hearing some sounds or conversations. If this happens, see a professional.

Join the movement, share the word

The WHO Make Listening Safe initiative, created in 2015, aims for a world where people of all ages can enjoy music and other sounds without damaging their hearing. Join this movement and help to promote safe listening in your community.

It is never too early or too late to practice safe listening and protect your hearing now and in the future.

This year’s theme builds upon the 2024 focus on changing mindsets towards ear and hearing care. We invite individuals of all ages to empower themselves to ensure healthy ears and hearing for themselves and others, with the theme, “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!” 

By encouraging individuals to recognize the importance of ear and hearing health, this campaign aims to inspire them to change behaviour to protect their hearing from loud sounds and prevent hearing loss, check their hearing regularly, use hearing devices if needed, and support those living with hearing loss. Empowered individuals can drive change within themselves and in society at large.