The Make Listening Safe Initiative

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Over a billion young people worldwide are at risk of developing hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices and exposure to damaging levels of sound in noisy entertainment venues. The WHO "Make Listening Safe" Initiative draws attention to the rising problem of noise-induced hearing loss due to recreational exposure to loud sounds. It has partnered with ITU to bring together governments, health professionals, academia and the industry to discuss how ICTs can help make listening safe. Expected outcomes include policy briefs, international standards and awareness campaigns to ensure that people of all ages can enjoy music, games, movies and live events without jeopardizing their hearing.

• Hearing loss and the role of ICTs: Shelly Chadha, WHO
  The talk will give a background about hearing loss and its common causes. It will highlight how unsafe listening through personal audio systems are creating a growing risk of hearing loss. It will describe simple practices for safe listening practices that can prevent hearing loss . Presentation
• WHO’s initiative to make listening safe through use of ICTs: Elena Altieri, WHO
  The talk will give an overview of WHO’s initiative to make listening safe. It will outline key aspects of this initiative, including actions taken and future plans. Presentation
• Safe listening standards for personal audio systems: Masahito Kawamori, ITU Q28/16 and Keio University, Japan
  The talk will outline the work undertaken by ITU in collaboration with WHO to develop standards for safe listening personal audio systems. Presentation