- Summits
- Sponsorship
- News
- About
Every year on 3 March, stakeholders around the world observe World Hearing Day to raise awareness about hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care as a public health priority. In 2026, the campaign centres on the theme “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children”, underscoring that every child should have the chance to hear, learn, and thrive regardless of where they live.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, an estimated 90 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years live with some degree of hearing loss worldwide. Yet many of these cases go undetected and untreated, especially in low-resource settings. Undiagnosed hearing problems can affect speech and language development, cognitive and social skills, and academic performance, with long-lasting implications for education and future opportunities.
World Hearing Day 2026 highlights two key priorities:
Communities and schools are natural platforms to reach children, their families, educators, and health workers. Integrating hearing care into school health programmes and child health services can help detect problems early and connect children with the care they need, while empowering those around them with knowledge about ear health.
This year’s campaign urges multisectoral collaboration — bringing together health care providers, educators, child health advocates, and community leaders to:
World Hearing Day also encourages sharing real-world impact stories that show how ear and hearing care efforts change outcomes in communities and classrooms alike.
Innovative solutions from the MedTech sector are helping address gaps in hearing care, particularly for children affected by otitis media with effusion, a leading cause of childhood hearing loss. One company making strides in this area is NousQ.
NousQ, a Singapore-based medical technology startup, has developed CLiKX, the world’s first automated handheld surgical applicator designed to simplify ventilation ear tube surgery, a common procedure to treat chronic middle ear fluid that can impair hearing. Traditionally, this surgery requires general anaesthesia and an operating theatre, which can limit access, especially in resource-constrained settings. The CLiKX device aims to make the procedure faster, safer, and more accessible by enabling it to be performed in outpatient settings with minimal equipment and anaesthesia.
This kind of innovation aligns with the goals of World Hearing Day by helping expand access to effective hearing care for children, a crucial step toward ensuring that more children receive timely treatment for ear conditions.
World Hearing Day 2026 serves as a reminder that hearing care is essential to a child’s development and future success. By harnessing the power of communities, schools, healthcare systems, and innovative technologies, we can create supportive environments where every child has the opportunity to hear, learn, and participate fully in life.
World Health Organization
Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Following the success of its Middle East flagship event, MedTech World is now heading to Florida for MedTech World North America, taking place in West Palm Beach from 11 to 13 May 2026.
The North America edition will convene global industry leaders, investors, and innovators for focused discussions, curated networking, and cross-border collaboration opportunities. If you are looking to be part of this milestone flagship event, you can engage in ways that align with your goals:
