It’s no secret that Sting suffers from hearing loss himself, and perhaps that is why he is now lending a helping hand in support of a global hearing loss campaign called Hear the World Initiative. Hear The World was established in 2006 by Phonak, a hearing systems manufacturer, with a mission to call attention to the importance of taking care of your hearing, to prevent hearing loss in later life, as well as to highlight the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and the solutions available for those who suffer. Sting joins a large group of celebrity ambassadors supporting Hear The World, including Jude Law, Elle Macpherson, Annie Lennox, Jerry Hall and Peter Gabriel.

Each Hear The World ambassador has been photographed by musician and photographer Bryan Adams holding the Hear the World pose – with one hand cupped behind their ear to convey conscious hearing. These striking black and white photos can be seen on the Hear The World website, and many have been incorporated into a beautiful 2010 calendar available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Hear The World Foundation. The Hear The World website has lots of useful information and even an online hearing test that I’m happy to report I passed. Check it out at www.hear-the-world.com.

Speculation about the extent of Sting’s hearing loss was reported as long ago as 1995 by the New York Daily News and mentioned again in 2005 by Rolling Stone. That makes his support of the Hear The World Initiative a charitable cause near and dear to his own heart and significant to his own health, and he explains his involvement by saying:

“Our hearing is not only integral to how we communicate but also how we experience the world around us.” Sting commented “It’s a fact that we gain more information from hearing than seeing. I hope by supporting this campaign people are reminded to appreciate every sound and fully protect their sense of hearing”.

Photo courtesy of Bryan Adams and the Hear The World Initiative.