On World Assistive Technology Day, 4 June 2026, EFHOH celebrates the assistive technology that enables millions of hard of hearing people to connect, participate, and live independently every day.
For many hard of hearing people, hearing aids and cochlear implants are the starting point. They open the door to communication, connection, education, employment, healthcare, culture, and independent living. But hearing accessibility does not stop there.
Every day, hard of hearing people rely on a wider ecosystem of assistive technologies and assistive listening systems, including hearing loops, remote microphones, captioning, speech-to-text, smartphones, neck loops, alerting systems, and so on. Together, these technologies help break down communication barriers and enable full participation in society.
Yet access remains far from equal. Through its State of Provision of Hearing Aids in Europe surveys in 2018 and 2022 and its ongoing 2026 Survey on Access to Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants, EFHOH continues to document significant inequalities in affordability, reimbursement, lifelong support and eligibility criteria across Europe.
These findings are particularly relevant at a time when assistive technology is receiving increased attention at the European level. In its recently adopted Communication on Enhancing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030, the European Commission identified accessible and affordable assistive technologies as key enablers of inclusion, participation, independent living, and equal opportunities.
EFHOH welcomes this stronger recognition. For hard of hearing people, however, meaningful inclusion depends not only on access to assistive technology itself, but also on the broader conditions that enable its effective use. Access to assistive technology is only one part of the equation. Accessible environments, inclusive communication practices, inclusive services, rehabilitation and lifelong support all play an essential role. Together, they create conditions for effective inclusion, independent living, and equal participation.
On this World Assistive Technology Day, EFHOH calls for a Europe where assistive technologies are available, accessible, affordable, and responsive to individual needs, preferences and lifestyles.
Recognising the right to hearing access means recognising the fundamental role of assistive technology in making that right a reality, alongside the support, services, and accessibility measures that enable its full benefits.
When assistive technology is available, accessible, and affordable for all, it unlocks hearing access. When hearing access is realised, it unlocks the everyday.
Check out our World Assistive Technology Day campaign on social media.
