CHANDIGARH : World Hearing Day is celebrated on 3rd March. The theme of this year is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality.” World Hearing Day was celebrated by the Department of Otolaryngology, PGIMER Chandigarh on 3rd March 2023. A public awareness program was organized for the patients and their families in the New OPD registration lobby. All faculty, staff, and resident doctors of the ENT department and Speech and Hearing Unit were present at the event. Posters were displayed to spread awareness about the causes and prevention of hearing loss.
Dr. Naresh Kumar Panda, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology welcomed the audience and briefed them about the significance of World Hearing Day. He suggested that people should not use phones and headphones continuously for a long time to avoid hearing impairment.
Dr. Noorain Alam, Lecturer informed the audience that there are approximately 6 crore persons in India who are suffering from significant hearing loss. According to WHO one in four persons will have significant hearing loss by the year 2050. Hearing loss negatively affects speech and language and mental development in children. In the older population hearing loss may lead to mental conditions like dementia. There is a need to identify and treat hearing loss at an early stage. Hence, people should get their hearing checked at regular intervals. Hearing impairment may be treated medically or by prescribing hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Students of the speech and Hearing Unit performed a skit to educate the audience about the myths about the causes and prevention of hearing loss and the need to get the hearing checked by audiologists.