The Health and Wellness Ministry and non-governmental organisation, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, (JAD), are embarking on a month-long ‘Snack of Silence’ Campaign.

For each Friday of the month, members of the public are encouraged to take a minute of silence to rest their ears.

The ministry says this means turning off, for one minute, as many sound-generating devices as is reasonable; that will be the snack of silence.

The ministry and JAD are bringing awareness to the public about ear and hearing health today, World Hearing Day.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, says world hearing day provides an opportunity to inform about the importance of protecting our ears and hearing health, while also giving a platform to focus on the social experiences of those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

In Jamaica, researchers estimate that between 7,500 and 200,000 persons live with hearing loss.

Among persons 65 years and over, one out of every three persons suffers from hearing loss.

The health ministry says given the reality of these numbers, the ministry, and JAD, are encouraging Jamaicans to mind their ear and hearing health.

They have noted five actions, persons should not do.

These are:

Do not insert cotton buds, sticks or pins into the ears;

Do not share earphones or earplugs;

Avoid listening to loud sounds;

Wear protective hearing gear as appropriate;

Avoid swimming, bathing in dirty water;

Members of the public are urged to see a doctor if they have ear or hearing problems.