From Communities To Classrooms: Hearing Care for All Children

The Audiology Offices today joins the World Health Organization and its partners in highlighting World Hearing Day, an annual global advocacy event for raising awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care. The initiative also calls for action to address hearing loss and related issues. The 2026 theme is “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children.”

Dr. Ann DePaolo Wietsma, audiologist and owner of The Audiology Offices, explains that the campaign focuses on two imperatives: 1. preventing avoidable childhood hearing loss; and 2. ensuring early identification of and care for children with ear or hearing problems.

Why such a strong focus on children’s hearing this year? Globally, school-age children with hearing loss often remain undiagnosed and without access to needed services (World Report on Hearing, 2021). Hearing loss affects approximately 90 million children and adolescents, aged 5-19 years, across all parts of the world (Global Burden of Disease Study, 2021). However, it commonly remains undetected, especially in low-resource environments.

Common, preventable and treatable causes of hearing loss—such as otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), and impacted ear wax—remain widely prevalent in children. It’s easy for parents to miss initially, as hearing loss begins insidiously but progresses and worsens over time.

Over 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable through simple, cost-effective public health measures. Among those living with ear diseases or hearing loss, early identification and care are crucial to prevent long-term impacts on development, education, and future opportunities.

Left unaddressed, this not only affects a child’s ability to hear, but also significantly impacts speech, language, cognitive and social development. This commonly leads to poorer educational outcomes, reduced employment prospects and long-term economic disadvantages.

Communities and classrooms are natural entry points to reach children, parents, and teachers. By integrating hearing care into school health and child health programs, we can help children hear, learn, and succeed.

Integrating systematic screening and early intervention programs into school health and child health plans can ensure improved outcomes for children living with ear or hearing problems.

Dr. Wietsma notes there are ways to improve hearing loss in children, including routine hearing screenings as part of school health programs. Other avenues include:

• Promote partnerships with other child health providers, such as primary care, education, and eye health professionals.
• Advance early identification, treatment, and referral pathways within existing community and school platforms.
• Empower teachers, parents, health workers and children through information resources.

In support of World Hearing Day, The Audiology Offices will provide free hearing screenings during the month of March.

About The Audiology Offices

The Audiology Offices provide comprehensive hearing health care solutions and recommendations to children and adults. They also conduct free hearing screenings at community health fairs. Since 2001, our team of expert professionals has served those in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula areas of Virginia, with office locations in Kilmarnock, Gloucester and Warsaw. From hearing and tinnitus evaluations and testing mandated by occupational safety and health administrations to the selection and fitting of over-the-counter and prescription hearing devices, The Audiology Offices are your hearing health solution center.

Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment at 1-800-555-5923.