{"id":55922,"date":"2026-03-13T07:41:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T06:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=55922"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:41:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T06:41:33","slug":"malta-association-of-audiologists-and-gozo-association-for-the-deaf-host-first-ever-world-hearing-day-collaboration-in-gozo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/13\/malta-association-of-audiologists-and-gozo-association-for-the-deaf-host-first-ever-world-hearing-day-collaboration-in-gozo\/","title":{"rendered":"Malta Association of Audiologists and Gozo Association for the Deaf Host First-Ever World Hearing Day Collaboration in Gozo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">On Saturday 28th February between 9:00am and 12:00pm, the Malta Association of Audiologists and the Gozo Association for the Deaf joined forces for the first time to commemorate World Hearing Day with a large-scale community hearing screening event in Victoria, Gozo.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">World Hearing Day, observed annually on 3rd March and led globally by the World Health Organization, aims to raise awareness on hearing loss prevention and promote ear and hearing care across the world. This year\u2019s local initiative marked a historic milestone for Gozo, being the first collaboration between two NGOs dedicated to hearing health and deaf awareness on the island. The Hon. Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo and Planning who specially paid a courtesy visit to this event was very much impressed with the way it was organised and had much praise for this initiative.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><b>Free Hearing Screenings for the Community<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The event offered free hearing screenings for individuals aged 6 years and upwards, providing 80 participants ( 18 under 18 years of age and 62 adults) with their first-ever audiological assessment and baseline audiogram.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">A total of 9 locally CPCM-registered Audiologists and 3 MSc in Audiology students from the current cohort volunteered their expertise. The screening setup was highly structured and efficient:<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u20225 hearing tests were conducted simultaneously<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u20222 Audiologists performed detailed ear examinations and case histories<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u20222 Audiologists were dedicated to explaining results and answering participants\u2019 questions<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Participants were also able to seek professional advice on:<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022Noise-induced hearing loss and prevention<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022Tinnitus<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022Ear protection<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022Age-related hearing changes<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022Next steps following identification of hearing difficulties<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">For those identified with hearing loss, professional guidance was provided regarding referral pathways, further diagnostic assessment, and management options.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><b>Community Engagement and Social Support<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The Gozo Association for the Deaf kindly hosted the event at their premises in Victoria, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Members of the Association were present throughout the morning, organising a social area where attendees could enjoy coffee and tea after their screening. During this time, they also explained the Association\u2019s role, advocacy work, and the support services available for individuals with hearing loss and their families.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">This social dimension played an important role in reducing stigma and encouraging open discussion around hearing health.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><b>A Shared Vision for Awareness and Accessibility<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The collaboration was driven by a shared purpose:<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022To educate the public<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022To increase awareness about hearing health<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022To make hearing testing more accessible<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u2022To encourage early detection and prevention<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The event particularly aimed to reach individuals who may have felt shy, unsure, or uncertain about how to get their hearing tested. By providing a friendly, professional, and free service, the initiative lowered barriers and empowered individuals to take control of their hearing health.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><b>Leadership Reflections<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The President of the Gozo Association for the Deaf and long-time Teacher of the Deaf, Carmen Grech, described the event as \u201ca meaningful step forward in raising awareness in Gozo and strengthening collaboration between organisations working for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Chairman of the Malta Association of Audiologists, Dr Andrew Sciberras, also declared the initiative a success, highlighting the strong turnout, the professional teamwork, and the positive feedback received from attendees.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">They both expressed hope that this will become an annual World Hearing Day event in Gozo, further strengthening public education and preventive hearing care across the Maltese islands.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The Gozo Association for the Deaf has recently become a member of the European Foundation of the Hard of Hearing and will be represented at its AGM in Brussels this April.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55922\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55922\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Saturday 28th February between 9:00am and 12:00pm, the Malta Association of Audiologists and the Gozo Association for the Deaf joined forces for the first time to commemorate World Hearing Day with a large-scale community hearing screening event in Victoria, Gozo. World Hearing Day, observed annually on 3rd March and led globally by the World [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55922\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55922\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"On Saturday 28th February between 9:00am and 12:00pm, the Malta Association of Audiologists and the Gozo Association for the Deaf joined forces for the first time to commemorate World Hearing Day with a large-scale community hearing screening event in Victoria, Gozo. World Hearing Day, observed annually on 3rd March and led globally by the World&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55924,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55922\/revisions\/55924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}