This World Hearing Day, it is time to 'change mindsets' by altering societal perspectives to address hearing loss effectively.
Audiometry test being performed for an elderly man. (AIISH/Supplied)
“Changing Mindsets” is WHO’s theme for this year’s World Hearing Day – 3 March – emphasising the need for altering societal perspectives. In rural Karnataka, hearing loss is considered a stigma, and most people avoid seeking help. Hearing loss and the use of hearing aids are often wrongly linked to aging, cognitive decline, and a diminished sense of vitality, leading to the stigma.