Protect Your Ears in October

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- October is not just the month for Halloween décor, trick or treating, and watching scary movies. It is also National Protect Your Hearing Month. National Protect Your Hearing Month is observed every October to raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss and promotes hearing protection strategies. This is especially important as the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that, "By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss, with over 700 million needing rehabilitation" and "1.5 billion people currently live with some level of hearing loss."¹ The International Hearing Society (IHS) works alongside WHO in spreading awareness of noise-induced hearing loss and what you can do to protect your hearing in October and all year long.

What is noise-induced hearing loss? In our ears, there are sensory cells that help us hear. When we are regularly exposed to loud or prolonged noises, those sensory cells can become permanently damaged, resulting in irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), or both.

Thankfully, there are protective measures you can take to preserve your hearing. Below are a few recommendations from WHO²:

• Keep the volume down on your devices: stay below 80 decibels (dB) average.
• Use earplugs.
• Stay away from sources of sound (loudspeakers, noisy environments, etc).
• Limit time spent engaged in noisy activities.
• Heed the warning signs of hearing loss. If you are having difficulties hearing high pitched sounds or following conversations, find a Hearing Aid Specialist near you for your hearing healthcare.

IHS President Michael Andreozzi, BS, BC-HIS, encourages regular hearing checks, "Hearing is one of those senses that everybody needs to pay close attention to – no different than your eyes and vision. We suggest that people have their hearing evaluated once a year." Regular hearing evaluations keep you in tune with your hearing and allow you to make proactive decisions when changes do happen.

This October, take the spookiness out of your hearing healthcare journey. Be sure to listen to loud sounds responsibly and find a hearing healthcare provider today to discover your hearing baseline. 

Resources:

1. Deafness
2. Deafness and hearing loss: Safe listening

About the International Hearing Society
The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide, including Hearing Aid Specialists. IHS members are engaged in the practice of performing hearing assessments, ordering the use of, selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, counseling patients, and providing aftercare services. Founded in 1951, IHS protects, represents, and promotes the interests of hearing healthcare and hearing healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.ihsinfo.org.

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SOURCE International Hearing Society