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Residents have their hearing screened at a free ÖSEL Foundation camp in Noida
3 March 2027

World Hearing Day 2027

"Hearing loss doesn't wait. Neither should you." Know the signs and check your hearing

In short: World Hearing Day is held on 3 March every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets the theme. For 3 March 2027 the theme is "Hearing loss doesn't wait. Neither should you.", with the tagline "Know the signs. Check your hearing!", and it focuses on adults living with or at risk of hearing loss.

World Hearing Day 2027 theme

WHO's 2027 campaign asks adults not to put off a hearing check. Its key messages:

  • Nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20 and over have some degree of hearing loss.
  • Nearly 1.5 billion adults live with hearing loss.
  • About 1 in 3 people over 60 are affected.

Hearing loss in numbers

From WHO's fact sheet on deafness and hearing loss (3 March 2026):

  • Over 5% of the world's population, 430 million people, need rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss, including 34 million children.
  • By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are expected to have some hearing loss, and more than 700 million will need rehabilitation.
  • Over 25% of people older than 60 have disabling hearing loss.
  • Nearly 60% of hearing loss in children is due to avoidable causes.
  • Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss from unsafe listening.
  • Unaddressed hearing loss costs the world almost US$ 1 trillion a year.

Past theme

The 2026 theme was "From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children", on preventing avoidable childhood hearing loss and finding it early.

How to mark World Hearing Day

  • Know the signs. Turning the TV up, asking people to repeat themselves, and finding it hard to follow conversation in a noisy room are common early signs.
  • Get a hearing check. A screening takes a few minutes and tells you whether to see an audiologist for a full test.
  • Hold a screening in your community. ÖSEL Foundation runs free hearing screening camps with resident welfare associations, senior citizens' clubs and community groups across Delhi NCR. Write to us if you would like one for your society around World Hearing Day.
  • Know the support available. Read our guides to free hearing aids for senior citizens and the ADIP scheme.

Frequently asked questions

When is World Hearing Day?
3 March every year. The next one is on Wednesday, 3 March 2027.
What is the theme of World Hearing Day 2027?
"Hearing loss doesn't wait. Neither should you.", with the tagline "Know the signs. Check your hearing!"
What was the theme of World Hearing Day 2026?
"From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children".
Who organises World Hearing Day?
The World Health Organization, which decides the theme each year and publishes materials for it.

Official sources

Checked against these sources on 13 November 2026. Government rules and portals change, so check the official site before you apply. ÖSEL Foundation is a non-profit, not a government office: we cannot approve or track applications, but we are happy to point you in the right direction.

More free guides

Need help with a hearing problem?

ÖSEL Foundation runs free hearing screening camps with resident welfare associations, senior citizens' clubs and community groups across Delhi NCR. If you, a parent or a neighbour cannot hear well, come to a camp or ask us to hold one in your society.

See our free campsRequest a camp