Wirecutter - Tips for the best Halloween

Taryn Mohrman

Whether you’re taking a little ghoul trick-or-treating or spending a quiet night playing horror board games, we have tips and tricks to make your home the spookiest envy of the neighborhood.

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We recommend using these smart-home gadgets to put the “trick” in “trick-or-treat.” Automated lights and speakers make it easy to bathe your entryway in bloodcurdling lighting or haunt passersby with eerie noises.

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You also can’t go wrong with classic jack-o’-lanterns. Here are the best pumpkin-carving kits, as well as some tips to keep yours looking fresh all week long. (Unless, of course, you’re going for that spooky, sunken look.)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that hearing loss from all causes is the third most common chronic physical condition in the US.

If you suspect that you’re one of the near-30 million US adults who could benefit from a hearing aid, good news: As of October 17, they are available for purchase over the counter. But your first step should be to self-identify signs of mild to moderate hearing loss. Here are just a few common signs:

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• You recognize when someone is speaking but can’t make out specific words they’re saying.

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• You have trouble following a one-on-one conversation amid a social or group setting.

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• It seems like people, especially children, mumble a lot.

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• You’ve maxed out the volume on your devices but still want to turn them up more.

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If any of these apply, we recommend that you get a hearing test to confirm. And if you believe that you’re a candidate for an OTC hearing aid, we can walk you through how to shop for and adjust to our audiologist-approved top picks.