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World Hearing Forum

Make Listening Safe

More than 1 billion young people aged 12 to 35 are at risk of hearing loss from recreational exposure to loud sound. Make Listening Safe works with governments, manufacturers, venues and the public so that no one’s hearing is endangered by unsafe listening.

Led by co-chairs Chucri and Aderinola Olopade

Visit makelisteningsafe.orgJoin the workstream

Our goal

To realize the world where people of all ages can enjoy recreational music without risk to their hearing.
1 billion+
young people aged 12–35 at risk from recreational sound

Source: WHO, Make Listening Safe

4
major manufacturers applying the WHO/ITU safe listening standard

Source: WHO workstream report

139
international experts from academia, government, industry and advocacy

Source: makelisteningsafe.org

Three places where hearing is protected

  1. 1. Devices

    The WHO-ITU standard sets out how phones and music players can track sound exposure and warn users. Apple, Huawei, Sony and Google already apply it.

  2. 2. Venues and events

    WHO’s global standard for safe listening in venues covers sound limits, live monitoring, quiet zones and hearing protection at clubs, concerts and festivals.

  3. 3. People

    Campaigns, school programmes, translated materials and a network of members in every region, so safe listening becomes a habit rather than a warning.

Keep the volume down, take listening breaks, use hearing protection in loud places, and check your hearing.

Based on WHO’s safe listening guidance.

What we are working towards

The workstream’s objectives as agreed with WHO, and how progress is measured against them.

  1. 01

    Raise awareness about the risks of exposure to high sound levels in recreational settings and through the use of personal audio devices.

  2. 02

    Develop and implement public health policies that emphasize the importance of safe listening.

  3. 03

    Strengthen partnerships between governments, civil society, and industry to promote safe listening practices.

  4. 04

    Empower users and health professionals with knowledge about the risks of sound exposure and strategies for preventing hearing loss.

Achievements so far

  • Apple, Huawei, Sony and Google have implemented WHO/ITU safe listening standards.
  • The Safe Listening LinkedIn group has reached 2000 members.
  • Portuguese and English Make Listening Safe social channels have been created.
  • The Safe Listening Wikipedia page has received more than 40,000 views across multiple languages.
  • Launched makelisteningsafe.org, the workstream’s own website.
  • Safe listening workshops and sessions have been organized at major audiology, ENT, and sound engineering conferences.

How progress is measured, 2024–2025

  • At least 2 headphone manufacturers to adopt the safe listening standard.
  • At least 1 country to adopt Make Listening Safe recommendations.
  • At least 1 school or country to implement Make Listening Safe as part of an educational curriculum.
  • Create the website for Make Listening Safe.
  • Increase social media numbers by 50%.
  • Create a youth group to produce videos for TikTok and X accounts.
  • Increase Make Listening Safe membership by 30% by December 2025.
  • Create 2 newsletters in 2024 and 4 by the end of 2025.

Other workstreams