Every October, Audiology Awareness Month provides an opportunity to learn more about hearing health and encourage others to take better care of their hearing. The month focuses on education, prevention and early intervention while reminding people that hearing health is an important part of overall wellness.
Despite the fact that an estimated 15% of U.S. adults have hearing loss, many people don’t think about their hearing until they notice issues.
Audiology Awareness Month is a great time to take a closer look at your own hearing habits and share helpful information with the people around you. Here are four simple ways to get involved.
1. Pay Attention To Everyday Hearing Difficulties
Hearing loss doesn’t always begin with obvious symptoms. You might notice small changes, such as frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning the television up louder than usual or having trouble following conversations in Prescott restaurants and other busy environments.
Take a few minutes this month to think about how well you hear in different situations. If you notice a pattern of difficulty, don’t ignore it. Schedule an appointment with Prescott Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy.
2. Share Hearing Health Information
Audiology Awareness Month is also about helping others learn. Share a hearing health fact on social media, talk with your family about hearing protection or start a conversation about the importance of regular hearing care.
You can also share information from trusted hearing health organizations and audiology professionals. Our blog page is a good place to start!
3. Make Hearing Protection a Habit
Loud concerts, sporting events, power tools, lawn equipment and certain workplace environments can expose your ears to excessive noise.
Keep a pair of earplugs handy when you know you’ll be around loud sounds. When using headphones or earbuds, keep the volume at a comfortable level and give your ears regular breaks.
A good rule to remember is that if you need to raise your voice to be heard by someone standing nearby, the environment may be loud enough to warrant hearing protection.
4. Schedule a Hearing Evaluation
Hearing loss can develop gradually, which means you may not immediately realize that your hearing has changed. A hearing test can help identify potential concerns and give you a better understanding of your current hearing health.
If it has been a while since your last hearing test, contact Prescott Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy to schedule your appointment with one of our specialists.
Sources
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024, September 20). Quick statistics about hearing, balance, & dizziness. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing