By Funmilayo Akinyemi/Akure
As the world mark the World Health Organization (WHO), marks this year’s World Ear and Hearing Day, a sign language instructor, Tobi Awogbemila, has called for showing more support and respect to those with hearing impediment.
The annual global event is marked to raise awareness about the prevention of deafness and hearing loss and to promote ear and hearing care worldwide.
In addition to raising awareness, World Hearing Day aims to foster inclusivity for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing community.
This year’s event has the theme: “Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself!”
Awogbemila noted that simple things like “bold captioning on videos and clear, direct communication” can make a huge difference to the hearing-impaired.
“Also putting efforts to learn basic sign language is a powerful way to show respect and understanding to the hearing-impaired,” he said.
Commenting on part of social integration for the hearing-impaired, Awogbemila stressed the need for deaf children to be enrolled in school early enough.
“Under no circumstances should they be isolated,” he added.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has called for regular hearing screenings and early intervention to minimize the impact of hearing loss.
This is even as it urged individuals to prioritize their hearing health and to support efforts to create a more inclusive society for those with hearing loss.
WHO made the call in a message for this year’s commemoration of World Ear and Hearing Day.
The global body highlighted the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards hearing loss and encourages individuals to take proactive steps in safeguarding their hearing health.
Organizations and healthcare providers around the world are participating in World Hearing Day through various activities, including free hearing screenings, educational workshops, and public awareness campaigns.
Some of the campaign highlights include educating the public about the causes of hearing loss, which includes noise exposure, and promoting preventative measures.
Efforts are also being made to improve access to ear and hearing care services globally, ensuring that individuals with hearing loss receive the necessary support.
