The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Washington, has ramped up the national public education campaign—It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing.—by offering free educational materials to parents of children ages 8 to 12 to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.

Free materials are available for order or download, including a 2009 self-adhesive calendar, on the Web site at www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.