When you think of October holidays, Halloween is probably the first to come to mind; how could you forget it’s coming up, with stores across Mobile filled to the brim with decorations and pumpkin-flavored pastries? While Audiology Awareness Month isn’t quite as omnipresent as Halloween, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to celebrate it!
You don’t need to dress up as a big ear for Audiology Awareness Month, but you can celebrate by practicing safe listening habits during October and beyond. Let’s look at a few of those habits below.
Wear Earplugs
Earplugs dampen the force of sound hitting your ears. When you wear them to concerts or other loud events around Mobile, you can minimize your risk of hearing damage. A few types of earplugs include:
- Disposable. Disposable earplugs are the foam options you might receive at concerts. When you insert them, you roll the plug between your fingers and place it in your ear. As the foam expands, it will create a seal that blocks sound. Disposable options are great for people who don’t spend much time around loud noise and only need a pair for the occasional concert.
- Pre-molded. Pre-molded earplugs are made of rubber, plastic or silicone. They’re an excellent option for people who spend a lot of time in noisy environments or need earplugs to sleep. You can choose simple, shallow plugs for sleeping or spring for some high-fidelity earplugs with special filters for clearer music.
- Custom. Custom earplugs form to the exact shape of your ear for superior protection. You will need a professional earmold to order custom plugs.
If you work in a noisy environment, such as a factory or construction site, your employer will likely provide earmuffs to protect your hearing.
Lower the Volume
When you listen to music through headphones, it’s stunningly easy to raise the volume past the safety threshold. Go into your phone’s “headphone safety” settings and set a decibel limit of no more than 80 dB to protect your hearing.
Don’t Clean Your Ears With Cotton Swabs
A survey study with 229 completed surveys found that 95.6% of respondents reported using cotton swabs for ear care, specifically to remove earwax.1 Of that number, 60.3% of respondents reported using the cotton swabs every day. Those numbers are staggering when you consider that sticking cotton swabs in your ears can increase your risk of earwax blockages and even rupture your eardrum.
You can celebrate this Audiology Awareness Month by setting an intention to keep cotton swabs out of your ears.
Schedule an Appointment at Premier Medical Group
One of the best things you can do to celebrate Audiology Awareness Month is to schedule an appointment with Premier Medical Group for a hearing checkup. We’ll help you keep your hearing health in tip-top shape.
Sources
1Weissman, B., Chowdhury, S., Mattin, M. D., Viola, F., & Flanagan, O. L. (2025). Ear-Rational Behavior: A Survey Study of Q-tip (Cotton Swab) Habits and Health Perceptions. Cureus, 17(9), e92402. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92402