Searching Behind the Scenes Costumes for the perfect outfit, trick-or-treating with your family or attending a booming party are all classic ways to celebrate Halloween. In addition to all the fun it offers, this holiday can get pretty noisy, which can put your hearing health at risk.
Let’s look at four ways you can protect your ears for a spooky Halloween without the hearing damage.
1. Wear Earplugs at Parties and Haunted Houses
Parties with lots of laughing people and loud music, or haunted houses with near-constant screams, can be louder than you expect. Anytime your environment exceeds 85 decibels, the threshold for hearing damage,[1] you should wear earplugs. Earplugs soften the force of sound as it hits your ears, reducing your risk of hearing damage. 85 decibels is about the volume of heavy traffic or a blender, meaning it can sneak up on you (spooky!). Use a decibel detector app on your smartphone to measure the volume of your environment.
2. Lower the Music
Listening to your favorite spooky soundtrack? Loud music is another way noise-induced hearing damage can occur. If you’re listening to music through headphones, follow the 60-60 rule: no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes.
Halloween parties may also blast Halloween music. This creates a fun atmosphere, but be careful. Not only could the music itself get too loud, but the high volume may also encourage party guests to shout to be heard over the Monster Mash, making it even louder.
If you’re hosting, try lowering the music volume between 10% and 25%. If you’re attending someone else’s party, you can politely ask them to turn the music down a little.
3. Watch Out for Haunted House Shrieks
The jump scares at haunted houses are part of the fun, but the resulting shrieks can be dangerous to your hearing. Standing at least a foot or two away from your closest friend or wearing earplugs can help protect your hearing.
4. Schedule a Hearing Test
Some aspects of your hearing healthcare come after Halloween. When we catch mild hearing loss early, we can give you tips for hearing protection moving forward and, if necessary, fit you with hearing aids to minimize the impact the condition has on your life.
If you notice signs of hearing loss, like muffled voices or a faint ringing or buzzing in your ears, it’s time to take a hearing test. Contact Torrance Audiology Center today to schedule your appointment with one of our specialists.
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[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2025). Noise-induced hearing loss. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss