October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, when awareness of noise-induced hearing loss, a preventable form of hearing loss, is particularly promoted. Hearing loss from noise can happen to anyone at any age. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur all at once, or it can take years to be noticeable. At least 10 million adults in the U.S. under age 70 may have hearing loss from noise in one or both ears, as indicated by a research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with support from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

Reducing exposure to loud noise can protect hearing. Examples of hearing protection measures include lowering the volume of electronic devices to a safe level, moving away from noise sources to reduce the impact on hearing, and wearing hearing protectors in a noisy place.