On 5 March 2026, in commemoration of World Hearing Day, EFHOH, together with the European Association of Hearing Aid Professionals (AEA) and the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA), organised its annual Lunch Debate at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Katrin Langensiepen.
This year’s debate, titled “From School to Workplace,” focused on the intersection between hearing health, education, and employment, examining how barriers in early stages can shape outcomes later in life.
Data presented by EHIMA highlighted disparities in employment outcomes, with lower employment rates among people with hearing loss and significant productivity losses across Europe. Complementing this, findings from the ongoing EFHOH–AEA study showed that communication barriers, listening fatigue and limited access to workplace accommodations remain widespread challenges, reflecting gaps in awareness and inclusive practices.
Lived experiences shared during the discussion further illustrated how inclusion is shaped by the environment, with accessible education systems enabling participation, while barriers often emerge in the transition to employment.
The discussion underscored a clear policy priority: addressing hearing health across the life course, from school to employment, requires coordinated action across health, education, and labour systems.
Recordings of the event are available on our World Hearing Day webpage.
The full report is available on the AEA website.
