World Hearing Day 2025: Changing mindsets

Written by Hannah Baker, Associate in our Military department.

World Hearing Day serves as a crucial reminder of the impact that noise-induced hearing loss can have, especially for those in the military. Our Military team emphasizes the significance of this day to raise awareness about the risks, promote preventive measures, and support military personnel who are affected by hearing damage due to prolonged exposure to loud environments. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring the long-term well-being and operational effectiveness of military clients.

World Hearing Day, observed annually on 3 March, is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care worldwide. Each year, the campaign focuses on a specific theme to highlight different aspects of hearing health.

World Hearing Day 2025

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

The theme for 2025, “Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!” continues the WHO’s efforts to transform perceptions about hearing health. This year’s campaign encourages individuals to empower themselves to recognise the importance of hearing and ear health, to seek support when required and to help drive change in their wider communities.

The WHO’s campaign aims to:

• Promote hearing protection: encouraging individuals to protect their ears from excessive noise and prevent hearing loss;
• Encourage regular hearing checks: advocating for routine hearing assessments to detect hearing issues early;
• Increase accessibility to hearing devices: raising awareness of the benefits of hearing aids and assistive technologies; and
• Support those with hearing loss: fostering inclusive environments and ensuring access to necessary resources and support.

The importance of hearing health

Hearing is an essential sense that enables communication, social interaction, and overall well-being. Untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life. The WHO estimates that over 430 million people worldwide have hearing loss requiring rehabilitation. Despite this, hearing care remains under-prioritised in many healthcare systems.

Hearing loss in military personnel and veterans

Military service exposes personnel to high levels of noise from gunfire, explosives, aircraft, and machinery, making them particularly susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Exposure to excessive noise without adequate hearing protection can cause irreversible damage, affecting communication, job performance, and mental health.

Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions affecting military personnel and veterans and many experience difficulties in accessing the right treatment, support, and assistive technology to manage their condition effectively.

One of the key themes for World Hearing Day 2025 is to to empower individuals to change behaviours to protect their hearing from loud noise in order to prevent hearing loss. However, we know that in a military setting this isn’t always possible.

How we support military personnel with hearing loss

We understand the profound impact that hearing loss can have on current and former service personnel. Our specialist Military Claims team is dedicated to supporting individuals affected by noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by their time in service.

We believe any hearing loss is worth investigating and we support events such as World Hearing Day to raise awareness and encourage those suffering to seek help and support. If you are or either a serving personnel or ex-serving personnel and suffer from an injury or illness as a result of service, such as noise-induced hearing loss, and have either been medically discharged, or you or members of your family have noticed symptoms of hearing loss, you may wish to obtain legal advice in relation to making a civil claim. Our Military Claims team can advise you for free on whether you have a noise-induced hearing loss civil claim for compensation. You can even bring a claim if you have previously been rejected under the War Pension scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Taking action this World Hearing Day

World Hearing Day 2025 is an opportunity to prioritise hearing health. Whether you are still serving in the military, a veteran, or simply concerned about your hearing, taking proactive steps is essential.

Ways to protect your hearing:

• Use hearing protection: Wear ear protection in noisy environments;
• Get regular hearing tests: Early detection can prevent further damage and help manage hearing loss effectively;
• Seek support if you experience hearing loss: Don’t ignore signs of hearing loss – professional help is available.