Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? One type is full of activities the whole time. This kind will leave you more tired than when you left but all of the fun will be remembered for years to come.
The other kind is all about unwinding. These are the trips where you might not do, well, much of anything. Perhaps you drink a bit of wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) at the beach. Or perhaps you’re getting pampered at some resort for your entire vacation. These are the peaceful and relaxing kinds of vacations.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect vacation. Whichever method you choose, however, untreated hearing loss can put your vacation in jeopardy.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, particularly if you don’t know you have it. Many individuals who have hearing loss don’t even recognize they have it and it eventually sneaks up on them. They just keep turning the volume on their tv up and up and up.
But the impact that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be minimized with some proven methods, and that’s the good news. Making an appointment for a hearing exam is obviously the first step. The more ready you are before you go, the easier it will be to minimize any power hearing loss could have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can your vacation be effected by hearing loss
So how can your next vacation be adversely impacted by hearing loss? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. Individually, they might not seem like that big of a deal. But when they start to compound it can become a real problem. Here are a few common examples:
- Language barriers become even more difficult: Managing a language barrier is already difficult enough. But neglected hearing loss can make it even more difficult to decipher voices (especially in a noisy setting).
- Meaningful moments with friends and family can be missed: Everybody loved the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. Significant and enriching conversations can be missed when you have neglected hearing loss.
- The vibrant life of a new place can be missed: Your experience can be rather dull when everything you hear is dull. After all, your favorite vacation spot is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- You miss important notices: Perhaps you miss your flight because you didn’t hear the boarding call. And as a consequence, your entire vacation schedule is thrown into absolute chaos.
Some of these negative outcomes can be averted by simply using your hearing aids. Which means the best way to keep your vacation on track and stress free is to take care of your hearing needs before you go.
How to prepare for your vacation when you have hearing loss
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on vacation if you have hearing loss. Not by any Means! But it does mean that, when you have hearing loss, a little bit of added planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. Whether or not you have hearing loss, this is obviously practical travel advice.
Here are several things you can do to ensure hearing loss doesn’t negatively effect your next vacation:
- Keep your hearing aids clean: Before you go out on your travels, make sure you clean your hearing aids. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re much less likely to have difficulties on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their regular maintenance is also a good plan.
- Pre-planning is a smart idea: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can present some challenges, so don’t be too spontaneous and prepare as much as possible.
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is no fun! Always make certain you bring spares! So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. You may be required to keep your batteries in your carry-on depending on the type of battery.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
Once all the preparation and planning is done, it’s time to hit the road! Or possibly it’s the airways. Before you head out to the airport, there are a number of things about flying with hearing aids you should certainly know about.
- Can I use my hearing aids on the plane? When they announce that it’s time to turn off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. Having said that, you may want to enable flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You may also want to let the flight attendants know you have hearing loss, as there may be announcements throughout the flight that are difficult to hear.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? That depends, some airports are really noisy during certain times of the day. But a telecoil device will normally be set up in many areas of most modern airports. This is a simple 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 noisy and chaotic.
- Do I have some rights I need to be aware of? Before you travel it’s never a bad idea to get familiar with your rights. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have many special rights. Basically, you must have access to information. Talk to an airport official about a solution if you suspect you are missing some info and they will most likely be able to help.
- If I use my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? Most hearing specialists will suggest that you use your hearing aids all day, every day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, showering, or swimming (or in an extremely loud environment), you should be using your devices.
- Will my smartphone be useful? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is really useful! After you land, you can use this device to adjust the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the correct type of hearing aid), get directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. If your phone is capable of doing all that (and you know how to use all those apps), it may take some strain off your ears.
- Do I have to take out my hearing aids when I go through TSA security? You can wear your hearing aids through the security screening process. It’s generally a good idea to tell the TSA agents that you’re wearing them. Never let your hearing aids go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Conveyor-belt style X-ray machines can create a static charge that can damage your hearing aids.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are unpredictable. Not everything is going to go the way you planned it all the time. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a positive mindset.
That way you’ll still feel like your plans are on track even when the inevitable obstacle happens.
Of course, the other side to that is that preparation can go a long way. When something goes wrong, with the right preparations, you can keep it from going out of control.
For people who have hearing loss, this preparation often starts by having your hearing tested and making sure you have the hardware and care you require. And that’s the case whether you’re going to every museum in New York City (vacation type number one) or lounging around on a beach in Mexico (vacation type number two).
Still have some questions or concerns? Schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam!
