5 min
Published March 3, 2026
World Hearing Day 2026: Protect Your Hearing to Protect Your Brain and Energy
[Aurora, IL], March 3, 2026 – AudioNova today joins World Hearing Day to highlight the critical connection between hearing health and overall well-being at every stage of life. Research shows that untreated hearing loss is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for dementia and premature cognitive decline during midlife¹. It also affects balance, mobility, social connections, and mental health, making hearing care a key factor in healthy aging²,³,⁴.
Hearing loss impacts people of all ages, including younger individuals and working-age adults, influencing communication, social participation, and job performance²,³,⁴. On average, adults wait approximately four years from the onset of noticeable hearing difficulties before seeking treatment⁵,¹², often due to low awareness, stigma, or misconceptions such as hearing loss being an untreatable part of normal aging⁶,⁷. In the workplace, individuals with hearing loss are more likely to work part-time, receive disability pensions, experience unemployment, or take sick leave⁸. Timely intervention, such as with modern hearing aids, restores hearing ability while supporting brain health⁹,¹⁰, social isolation¹¹, and workplace challenges⁵, helping individuals stay connected, productive, and engaged.
AudioNova supports a comprehensive approach to hearing health, from regular screenings and everyday hearing protection to strategies that promote brain health, balance, and social connections in daily life.
“Physicians, ENT specialists and hearing care professionals are essential in encouraging early action and addressing common barriers to treatment,” says Craig Cameron, Managing Director at AudioNova. “World Hearing Day underscores that 90% of people with hearing loss report high satisfaction with their intervention, and two out of three would seek help sooner if aware of the benefits¹². Prioritizing hearing health helps people maintain vitality across all life stages.”
AudioNova is committed to expanding access to qualified hearing care professionals globally through initiatives like the Audiological Care Academy, which trains specialists to the highest standards, ensuring people everywhere can receive expert support.
Practical steps for everyday hearing health
Experts emphasize that protecting hearing is simple and highly effective. Regular screenings, especially from midlife onward, help detect issues early, when intervention can make the greatest impact. Daily prevention also matters, e.g. wearing hearing protection in noisy environments and maintaining moderate headphone volume can prevent long-term damage.
A healthy lifestyle supports healthy hearing, too. Balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and staying socially active all contribute to better hearing health and overall vitality.
World Hearing Day offers a perfect opportunity to focus on hearing health. For more information about AudioNova or to find your closest clinic location, explore our website: www.audionova.com.
About AudioNova US
AudioNova US is committed to helping people hear and live better. As Sonova’s hearing care retail brand in the United States, AudioNova operates nearly 400 clinics with services reaching 37 states, where local experts support people at every stage of their hearing journey. They offer clear information, easy access, and personalized care in clinics or via telehealth. Discover more at AudioNova.com.
About Sonova
Sonova is a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions: from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems to audiological care services, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The Group was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Stäfa, Switzerland. Sonova operates through four businesses – Hearing Instruments, Audiological Care, Consumer Hearing and Cochlear Implants – and the core brands Phonak, Unitron, AudioNova, Sennheiser (under license) and Advanced Bionics as well as recognized regional brands. The Group’s globally diversified sales and distribution channels serve an ever growing consumer base in more than 100 countries.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the Group generated sales of CHF 3.9 billion, with a net profit of CHF 547 million. Around 18,000 employees are working on achieving Sonova’s vision of a world where everyone enjoys the delight of hearing.
Sonova has a long-standing commitment to innovation and was ranked no. 12 among the most innovative companies in Europe in 2025 by Fortune magazine, selected from 300 companies across 21 countries and 16 industries.
For more information, please visit www.sonova.com.
Media Contact: Elio DiStaola
Communications Manager
331.290.5076
References:
¹ Livingston, G., et al. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0
² Henderson, N., et al. (2025). A qualitative systematic review of the impact of hearing on quality of life. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 34(4), 879–892. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-024-03851-5
³ Shukla, A., et al. (2021). Functional Hearing Loss and Social Engagement Among Medicare Beneficiaries. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 76(1), 195–200. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz094
⁴ Nachtegaal, J., et al. (2012). Hearing ability in working life and its relationship with sick leave and self-reported work productivity. Ear and hearing, 33(1), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e318228033e
⁵ EuroTrak Germany 2025, retrieved from https://www.ehima.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EuroTrak_ GERMANY_2025.pdf
⁶ Nickbakht, M., Ekberg, K., Waite, M., Scarinci, N., Timmer, B., Meyer, C., & Hickson, L. (2025). The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: Perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S12-S19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2353862
⁷ Aldè, M., et al. (2025). The Ongoing Challenges of Hearing Loss: Stigma, Socio-Cultural Differences, and Accessibility Barriers. Audiology Research, 15(3), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15030046
⁸ Granberg, S., et al. (2024). How to remain in working life with hearing loss - health factors for a sustainable work situation. Work, 79(3), 1391–1406. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-230377
⁹ Lin, F. R., et al. (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 402(10404), 786–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X
¹⁰ Sarant, J. Z., et al. (2024). ENHANCE: a comparative prospective longitudinal study of cognitive outcomes after 3 years of hearing aid use in older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, Article 1302185. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1302185
¹¹ Ellis, S., et al. (2021). A review of the impact of hearing interventions on social isolation and loneliness in older people with hearing loss. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 278(12), 4653–4661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06847-w
¹² Powers, T. A., & Bisgaard, N. (2022). MarkeTrak and EuroTrak: What We Can Learn by Looking Beyond the U.S. Market. Seminars in Hearing, 43(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1758361
