The World Hearing Forum (WHF), with over 200 members, drives a global advocacy initiative that provides a common platform and narrative for all stakeholders to collaborate and raise awareness about the need and means for ear and hearing care through its five workstreams: (1) Make Listening Safe, (2) World Hearing Day, (3) Changemakers (4) External Relations and (5) Members Engagement, to achieve its advocacy goal.  

Interested in becoming a member? The membership application process are open from August 15 to October 15, 2024.

Credit: Hector Ruiz

Dr Hector Ruiz, Asociación Panamericana de Otorrinolaringología Argentina

Interview with Dr Héctor E. Ruiz: a true "world traveller" in hearing science, Dr Ruiz has leveraged his global connections to spread research undertaken on ear and hearing care, build international scientific networks, and raise awareness on the importance of hearing care in the region.  He is also the editor of the Panamericana E.N.T bulletin, which reaches around 45,000 readers. He represents the Asociación Panamericana de Otorrinolaringología Argentina, a member of the WHF.

What motivated your organization to become a member of the WHF? 

I am an Otologist and Ear Surgeon, so ear and hearing care has always been my priority. Prevention is always cost-effective. I have been doing it for more than 45 years, and I fully support the WHF's work. I founded the national audition day in Argentina in 2014, which the nation's Senate approved.

Can you describe a policy change in your region that significantly impacted the otolaryngology and hearing care community?  

The hearing disability law was implemented in Argentina. We promoted similar legislation in several other countries to address the care, obligations, and rehabilitation requirements for individuals with hearing impairments, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related services.

What challenges do you think the ear and hearing care field in Argentina and Latin America face today, and how can they be addressed?

In Argentina, we are better prepared because of the collaboration between audiologists and otolaryngologists. All countries must establish a basic infrastructure to promote prevention, vaccinations, environmental noise reduction, and addressing other factors that contribute to hearing loss. Developing countries often have higher rates of hearing impairment, and access to hearing aids and implantable prostheses is limited.

How can the challenges in the region's EHC field be addressed, and how can awareness contribute?

Awareness campaigns should be ongoing, not limited to annual events like World Hearing Day. Newsletters are effective channels for disseminating information.

WHF Secretariat appreciates Dr Hector Ruiz for his efforts and contribution.

Credit: World Hearing Forum Changemakers

Joanna Białasz, Poland

Joanna Białasz, a 17-year-old Polish journalism student, exemplifies resilience and determination. Diagnosed with profound bilateral deafness before her second birthday, Joanna received a cochlear implant in her left ear, opening up a world of sounds.

Joanna learned to communicate verbally through dedicated rehabilitation and support from her parents, who founded an association for children with hearing impairments in Poland. Her education at a private primary school included tailored classes to improve reading, writing, and sign language skills.

Embracing a multifaceted approach to personal growth, Joanna engaged in contemporary dance, piano lessons, and foreign language studies, particularly excelling in English and French. These diverse experiences have shaped her into a typical teenager who relishes life, with passions ranging from theatre and music to drawing and swimming.

Joanna's journey extends beyond her hearing impairment; she explores the Japanese language and culture and dreams of visiting Japan. Importantly, Joanna advocates for respectful language, preferring terms like "person with a disability" or "cochlear implant user" over "disabled".

 Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, family support, and personal determination. Joanna's inspiring advice encapsulates her spirit: "If you have barriers, don't cry, just dream. And make your dreams come true".

Credit: Christian Blind Mission

The global call to action on ear & hearing care at the World Health Assembly 

During the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2024, the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), the International Federation of Otolaryngological Societies (IFOS), and the International Society of Audiology (ISA)  organized a side event on Ear & Hearing Care, building upon the momentum generated by the 2017 WHA resolution on the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss. The event aimed to take stock of the progress made since then and explore future steps in addressing this health issue. 

Over 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by hearing loss, with 430 million living with moderate to severe hearing impairment. Shockingly, more than 80% of ear and hearing care needs around the world remain unmet, highlighting a significant gap in healthcare provision. Neglected hearing loss comes at a substantial personal and economic cost, estimated at a staggering $980 billion annually at the global level. 

The side event, held on May 28, brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the WHO, governments, organizations for persons with disabilities, civil society, and professional associations. The governments of the Philippines and Slovak Republic endorsed this important initiative. Following this, the Slovak Republic also made a strong statement on the need for a new WHA resolution on ear and hearing care during the WHA 2024.

The main takeaway from the event is the urgent need for collaborative efforts to bridge the gap in ear and hearing care services. By working together, we can ensure that everyone has access to quality hearing healthcare and support those living with hearing loss to lead fulfilling lives. 

(To watch the statement made by the Slovak Republic click the button below- Sixth Committee A meeting. 29/05/2024- 14:40-17:45 ( Video time: 1:15:02).

Credit: Udito Italia Onlus

Udito Italia Onlus- Italy 

The fifteenth edition of the "Nonno Ascoltami! La Prevenzione in Piazza” campaign, held once a year in autumn, brings to numerous Italian squares the possibility not only of carrying out hearing screening but also of learning how to protect one's hearing health.

Doctors and hearing specialists, together with volunteers, are available to citizens for an entire day, for hearing screening but also to answer questions and to encourage people to learn more about the role of hearing in life, overcoming any form of stigma. Raising awareness reaches not only grandparents, adults, young people and children. Academic institutions are also involved in the event and are invited to the square to learn about the activities and all levels of healthcare that are raise awareness about hearing health. During the day, information material is distributed and debates are organized with medical specialists to inform about the importance of prevention. “Nonno Ascoltami!” has received numerous awards for its work, including from the President of Italy. 

Credit: Chris Waterworth

Asia Pacific Symposium on Ear and Hearing Care

The inaugural Asia Pacific Hybrid Symposium on Ear and Hearing Care, organized by Dr Chris Waterworth and the HEARglobe student advocacy group, took place in Melbourne on 15th May.

The symposium brought together regional experts to address the growing hearing loss issue. Attendees from countries including India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, and various Pacific Islands gathered to discuss innovative approaches to hearing care. Participants from the World Health Organization emphasized the need to develop new technologies and integrate services into existing health systems. Collaborative approaches were discussed, including developing cost-effective care models and expanding the role of primary healthcare workers.

This symposium provided an excellent opportunity for students to engage in global hearing health initiatives, allowing them to have a voice and be active contributors. It also allowed students to engage with experts in hearing care, introduce themselves, and in some cases initiate discussions, building their confidence and networks within the field.

Credit: International Telecommunication Union

Protecting Hearing Health in Video Gameplay and Esports 

With over three billion enthusiastic participants worldwide, video gaming and esports have gained immense popularity. However, along with their growth comes the potential risk of sound-induced hearing damage and loss. To address this concern, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are close to completing the first-ever global standard for safe listening in gaming. The primary objective of this initiative is to establish a universal reference point for safe audio levels during video gameplay and esports activities. The upcoming standard will provide clear guidelines to prevent hearing damage and loss due to prolonged exposure to high-decibel sounds.  

To engage stakeholders and foster dialogue, the WHO Ear and Hearing Care Programme organized an online meeting titled 'Shaping the Future of Safe Listening in Video Gameplay and Esports.' This aimed to offer a platform for all interested parties to better understand the proposed standard, participate in discussions, and provide valuable feedback. 

This collaborative effort by the ITU and WHO highlights the importance of preserving hearing health in the digital age.  

Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission

The Lancet has just published its latest standing Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care report.

Of note to Ear and Hearing Care, the Commission estimates that if hearing loss was eliminated as a risk factor, 7% of all dementia cases could potentially be prevented. It specifically recommends that hearing aids are accessible for people with hearing loss; and to decrease harmful noise exposure to reduce preventable hearing loss, which can increase the risk of dementia later in life.

ASHA-WHO Poll

A recent poll has been released showing important insights into hearing and video gameplay. The poll, a joint effort by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); and the WHO Collaborating Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems at the University of Lucerne, was released last month and surveyed nearly 1700 video gameplayers aged 18-35 from the US, Brazil and Japan.

Notable findings from this study:

• Over 75% of US, Japan, and Brazil video gamers engage in activities that could harm their hearing.
• On average, gamers spend 15 hours per week playing, with 43% using headphones for extended periods and nearly 30% at high volumes.
• One-third of respondents report hearing difficulties but most respondents still believe their hearing is excellent and don’t think video gameplay poses a risk.
• Most respondents were open to implementing safe listening features within video gameplay devices and software to help protect their hearing.

Do you want to support us on raising awareness about safe listening among the video gamer community? You can do it by sharing this video on social media!

Credit: Sue Price

Towards a good life. We need to be involved in research

Actively involving citizens in research means forming authentic and transparent partnerships where studies are conducted with them, and not merely about, for, to, or on them. This inclusive and equitable approach represents a significant shift from clinicians and researchers dominating which services are provided to allowing citizens to lead the way in defining which services are received.

We would like to give a warm welcome to our new members: Academia Brasileira de Audiologia (ABA), Brazil, Educational Audiology Association, USA, Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS), Pakistan, Ministry of Health Botswana , The Polish Section of Audio Engineering Society (PS-AES), Poland, Specsavers, UK and Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil.

We want to take a moment to express our gratitude to our newsletter review committee for their hard work, dedication, and creativity during the last 3 years.

First and foremost, we would like to extend our thanks to our outgoing members: Pushpa Mariswamy (All India Institute of Speech and Hearing) , Dalia Tsimpida (University of Southampton), Kavita Prasad (former representative DeafKidz International) and Paula Pfeifer (Crônicas da Surdez).

In addition, we would like to thank the members who decided to continue serving on the review committee : Mazin al Khabori (The Ministry of Health of Oman) Shilpi Narang (Alps Hearing Research Forum), Steve Williamson (Deafness Forum Australia​) and Victor De Andrade (University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg​).

We are excited to welcome the new members of the committee: Pamela Tomicic (Centro de Audición Los Sentidos y La Comunicación), Pedro Brás da Silva (OUVIR Associação Portuguesa de Portadores de Próteses e Implantes Auditivos​) and Rohit Ravi (Department of Audiology & SLP, KMC, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education).

This newsletter has been curated by the WHO Ear and Hearing Care Programme. Reach out via email:

• For general enquiries related to the World Hearing Forum at  whf@who.int
• For enquiries related to the Make Listening Safe Initiative at mls@who.int 
• Is there anything specific you'd like to see more of in the WHF newsletter? Send your feedback to Carolina Pardal Belinchón at belinchonc@who.int