National Ear Day: Hearing disabled increasing every year in China

Today is the 16th National Ear Day. National Ear Day was originally proposed at the 1983 CPPCC, and was made official in 2000. (Photo/Xinhua)

Today is the 16th National Ear Day. National Ear Day was originally proposed at the 1983 CPPCC, and was made official in 2000. The World Health Organization marked March 3rd as International Ear day in 2013, reminding people of the importance of hearing protection.

"The National Ear Day is an important way to raise people's awareness of protecting their ears. Doctors and other health-care professionals also need an incentive to do preventive work. The ultimate goal is to let people live a healthy life," said Cao Haifeng, researcher of China Hearing Rehabilitation Center.

The theme of this year's National Ear Day is "Using ears safely, protect our hearing". The WHO reminds people that hearing damage can have a severe influence both physically and mentally. Once you lose hearing, it can never be restored. According to statistics published by the China Disabled Persons Federation,

China sees more than 300,000 new hearing disabled people every year. It also points out that a main cause for the hearing damage is the unhealthy habit of using electronic products with audio functions, like earpieces.