About World Hearing Day
The World Health Organization (WHO) World Hearing Day is an annual advocacy event held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. It has been organized since 2007 and was first introduced in Beijing, China.
Since 2013, EFHOH in co-operation with EHIMA and AEA has annually organized a Lunch Debate in the European Parliament especially aimed at MEPs and national policymakers in Europe. The event has been hosted by MEPs such as Helga Stevens (Belgium), Katrin Langensiepen (Germany), Ádám Kósa (Hungary), Alex Agius Saliba (Malta) and Roberta Metsola (Malta).
2026
The 2026 edition of the Lunch Debate World Hearing Day 2026, was held online with the theme “From school to workplace” and explored hearing loss and hearing care across the life course, with a focus on the transition from education to employment, job retention, empowerment and inclusive workplaces.
In total, 143 participants from 33 countries around the globe registered for this year’s virtual lunch debate.
Below, please find all recorded presentations.
Welcome – MEP Katrin Langensiepen
WHO World Hearing Day 2026 theme – Shelly Chadha & Shirin Kiani – WHO
My story: From the school to employment – Nicole Sophie Marinos – AHEAD
The role of hearing health in employment and job retention – Stefan Zimmer – EHIMA
The Impact of Hearing Loss, Hearing Care and Empowerment in the Workplace, part 1 – Mark Laureyns – AEA
The Impact of Hearing Loss, Hearing Care and Empowerment in the Workplace, part 2 – Lidia Best – EFHOH
Debate & Conclusion
2025
World hearing day 2025 was held with the theme “Changing mindset”. EFHOH together with partners from AEA and EHIMA continued with the tradition of holding a parliamentary lunch debate.
Below please find all recorded presentations.
- Welcome – MEP Zala Tomasic
- WHO World Hearing Day theme – Shelly Chadha -WHO
- The EU Disability Employment Package – Monika Chaba – European Commission
- Hard of Hearing People in Employment – implementing inclusive approach – Lidia Best – EFHOH
- Advocacy / Multi-sectoral Action for change – Ariane Laplante-Lévesque – WHO Europe
- The consequences of hearing loss on employment – Mark Laureyns – AEA
- The role of hearing health in employment and job retention – Stefan Zimmer – EHIMA
- Debate & Conclusion
2024
World Hearing Day 2024 was held with the theme of “Changing Mindsets”. EFHOH, together with partners from AEA and EHIMA continued with the tradition of holding a Parliamentary Lunch Debate.
The Virtual Lunch Debate was hosted this year by MEP Jaroslaw Duda ( Poland).
Some interesting statistics: In total more than 250 people registered for the debate and we had 169 active attendees from in total 28 countries, stretching from Australia, the Philippines, India, South Africa, Brazil, and the United States. Most participants came from Europe, with Poland, the country of MEP Duda on top with 50 attendees, followed by Belgium (32), UK, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Italy.
Thank you to everyone who participated! Below, please find all recorded presentations.
- Welcome – MEP Jarosław Duda
- WHO World Hearing Day theme – Shelly Chadha -WHO
- Why we need to change mindsets – Lidia Best– EFHOH
- Myths and reality on hearing loss and hearing care – Mark Laureyns – AEA
- Changing the Mindsets on Hearing Care – Stefan Launer – EHIMA
- Changing mindsets to ensure inclusive health systems – Emma Smith -WHO Europe
- Debate & Conclusion – All
- The full lunch debate
2023
World Hearing Day 2023 was held with the theme of “Ear and hearing care for all! – Let’s make it a reality”. EFHOH, together with partners from AEA and EHIMA continued with the tradition of holding a Parliamentary Lunch Debate. The Virtual Lunch Debate was hosted this year by MEP David Lega (Sweden, EPP).
Below, please find all recorded presentations.
- Welcome & Introduction MEP David Lega (Sweden, EPP)
- Ear and Hearing Care for All – Let’s make it a reality – World Hearing Day 2023 – Shelly Chadha – WHO Geneva
- Adult hearing screening in Europe: a key prerequisite towards a hearing health strategy – Patrick D’Haese – EHIMA
- Hearing Care Access in Europe – Hearing Aids – Lidia Best – EFHOH
- Hearing Care Access in Europe – Cochlear Implants – Teresa Amat – Euro-CIU
- Why and how to avoid the consequences of untreated hearing loss – Mark Laureyns – AEA
- The importance of Quality Hearing Care and Rehabilitation in Europe – Ariane Laplante-Lévesque – WHO Europe
2022
World Hearing Day 2022 was held with the theme of “To hear for life, listen with care!”. EFHOH, together with partners from AEA and EHIMA continued with the tradition of holding a Parliamentary Lunch Debate. The Virtual Lunch Debate was hosted this year by MEP Alex Agius Saliba (Malta, S&D).
Below, please find all recorded presentations.
- Welcome & Introduction – MEP Saliba (Malta, S&D)
- The WHO introduction on “To hear for life, listen with care” – Shelly Chadha – WHO
- The “WHO Global Standard for Safe Listening Entertainment Venues” – Mark Laureyns – AEA
- Why hard of hearing people care for safe listening – Lidia Best– EFHOH
- Why and how the organisation of Cochlear Implant users, started a program of Young Ambassadors going to schools to promote safe listening – Laia Zamora – EURO-CIU
- The importance of Adult Hearing Screening – Patrick D’Haese – Hear-it
- The importance of Access to Ear and Hearing Care in Europe – Satish Mishra – WHO-Europe
2021
World Hearing Day 2021 was held with the theme of “HEARING CARE FOR ALL”. EFHOH, together with partners from AEA and EHIMA continued with the tradition of holding a Parliamentary Lunch Debate. The Virtual Lunch Debate was hosted this year by MEP Alex Agius Saliba (Malta, S&D).
Below, please find all recorded presentations.
- Welcome & Introduction – MEP Saliba (Malta, S&D)
- “HEARING CARE FOR ALL”, the World Report on Hearing – Shelly Chadha – WHO
- Access to Hearing Care during COVID-19 – Morten Buan – EFHOH
- User experiences with Cochlear Implants – Robert Mandara – EURO-CIU
- Message from Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli – Maltese Ministry for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing
- The use of hearing aids and cochlear implants: are we fulfilling the need? – Patrick D’Haese – Hear-it
- Hearing screening and hearing care for young active people with hearing loss – Mark Laureyns – AEA
EFHOH board member and featured speaker, Darja Pajk, at the 2019 Lunch Debate below:
