Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? There’s the kind where you cram every single activity you can into every single moment. This kind will leave you more exhausted than when you left but all of the fun will be remembered for many years to come.
Then there are the relaxing types of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Maybe you spend the entire time on the beach with some cocktails. Or maybe you spend your whole vacation at some sort of resort, getting pampered the entire time. These types of vacations will leave you quite rested and recharged.
There’s no right or wrong way to vacation. But neglected hearing loss can jeopardize whichever kind of vacation you take.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
There are a few distinct ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more difficult, particularly if you don’t recognize you have hearing loss. Look, hearing loss can sneak up on you like nobody’s business, many individuals have no idea they have it. The volume on all their devices just keeps going up and up.
The nice thing is that there are some tried and tested ways to minimize the effect hearing loss could have on your vacation. Making an appointment for a hearing exam is definitely the first step. The effect that hearing loss has on your fun times will be greatly diminished the more prepared you are before you go.
How can hearing loss effect your vacation
So how can hearing loss negatively impact your next vacation? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. And while some of them might seem a bit insignificant at first, they tend to add up! Here are some common examples:
- Getting beyond language barriers can be frustrating: Dealing with a language barrier is already difficult enough. But untreated hearing loss can make it even more difficult to understand voices (especially in a noisy situation).
- You miss significant notices: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you don’t ever hear the announcement. This can cast your entire vacation timing out of whack.
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience could be muted also. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- Special moments with friends and family can be missed: Everyone loved the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. Important and enriching conversations can be missed when you have untreated hearing loss.
A number of these negative situations can be avoided by simply wearing your hearing aids. So, managing your hearing needs is the ideal way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction.
If you have hearing loss, how can you prepare for your vacation?
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on vacation if you have hearing loss. Not by any Means! But with a little additional planning and preparation, your vacation can still be fun and fairly stress-free. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice regardless of how strong your hearing is.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- Keep your hearing aids clean: Before you leave on your travels, be certain that you clean your hearing aids. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re less likely to have difficulties on vacation. It’s also a good plan to make sure your suggested maintenance is up to date!
- Pre-planning is a good plan: It’s okay to be spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do before you go, the less you’ll need to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can present more challenges).
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is the worst! Remember to bring some spare batteries. Now, you may be thinking: can I have spare batteries in my luggage? The exact rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. You may need to keep your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
Hearing aid travel tips
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the preparation and planning have been done! Or, well, the airways, maybe. Before you head out to the airport, there are some things about going on a plane with hearing aids you should certainly know about.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need to remove my hearing aids? You won’t be required to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. That being said, telling the TSA agents you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. Don’t ever let your hearing aids go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor style X-ray devices produce.
- Do I have some rights I should know about? It’s a good idea! In general, it’s smart to become familiar with your rights before you go. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have lots of special rights. Basically, you must have access to information. So if you think you’re missing out on some information, let an airport official know that you have hearing loss and they will most likely offer help.
- Will my smartphone be helpful? Your smartphone is extremely helpful, not surprisingly. After you land, you can use this device to adjust the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the correct kind of hearing aid), find directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. You might be able to take some strain off your ears if you’re able to use your phone in this way.
- Is it ok to wear my hearing aids longer than usual? Most hearing specialists will suggest that you wear your hearing aids all day, every day. So you should be wearing your hearing aids whenever you aren’t in a really noisy place, swimming, or showering.
- Is it ok to fly with hearing aids in? When they tell you it’s time to turn off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. That said, you may want to activate flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. Some of the in-flight announcements may be hard to hear so be certain that you let the flight attendants know about your hearing loss.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? That will depend, some airports are very noisy during certain times of the day. But a telecoil device will usually be set up in many areas of most modern airports. This is a basic wire device (though you’ll never see that wire, just look for the signs) that makes it easier for you to hear with your hearing aids, even when things are loud and chaotic.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Vacations are unpredictable with or without hearing loss. Not everything is going to go the way you planned it all the time. That’s why it’s important to have a good attitude and treat your vacation like you’re taking on the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel as if your plans are moving in the right direction even when the inevitable obstacle happens.
Of course, the other side to that is that preparation can go a long way. When something goes amiss, with the correct preparations, you can keep it from spiraling out of control.
For those with hearing loss, this preparation frequently starts by getting your hearing assessed and making certain you have the hardware and care you need. And whether you’re on vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (chilling on a tropical beach somewhere), this guidance will still hold.
Want to make sure you can hear the big world out there but still have concerns? Call us today!