Each October, Audiology Awareness Month occurs to promote awareness about hearing health and the importance of hearing protection. Audiology Awareness Month was established in March 2008 and prioritizes sharing resources and educating the community.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people, or 20% of the world’s population live with hearing loss and many of the impacts of hearing loss can be mitigated through early detection and intervention.

Therefore, audiology is a perfect time to spread awareness, learn more about audiology and encourage others to prioritize their hearing health. Here are five ways you can celebrate and support Audiology Awareness Month.

Get a Hearing Test

One of the most impactful ways to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month is to take charge of your own hearing health. If you haven’t had a hearing test recently, schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.

Even if you think your hearing is fine, regular hearing assessments can help catch issues early before they become more severe. Encourage your friends and family to get their hearing tested as well; you can even go as far as scheduling appointments for your entire family.

Discuss Hearing Loss

Tell others about how you’ve scheduled a hearing test for yourself and the reasoning for why you’ve done so. Talk with any family you may be concerned about having some form of hearing loss. Hearing loss often occurs gradually over time, and a person may not notice it is occurring until it’s too late. You can explain if they’re missing consonant sounds or struggling to hear in places with loud background noise like Raging Sage Coffee Roasters, they may have some form of hearing loss.

Participate on Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for spreading awareness. Use your platforms to share facts about hearing loss, audiology and the importance of hearing care. Or interact with social media accounts who already do so to show support and boost the information.

Learn About and Begin Using Hearing Protection

A great way to celebrate is by educating yourself and others on hearing protection. Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable with the right precautions, yet many people are unaware of how everyday sounds can damage their hearing. Learn about hearing protection devices, such as earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, and spread the word to your loved ones. If you attend loud events or work in noisy environments, make hearing protection part of your routine. Additionally, heed warnings on your personal devices and limit volumes or take breaks as needed from noise exposure.

Attend or Support a Community Event

Many communities and hearing health organizations host events during Audiology Awareness Month or set up booths at existing events. Attend, participate and interact to help spread awareness about the month. Hearing loss health is an important portion in promoting overall health so there are benefits to supporting and learning.

Audiology Awareness Month is an opportunity to take proactive steps toward better hearing health. To take the first step in celebrating, schedule a hearing evaluation with Arizona Hearing Specialists today.