Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? There’s the type where you jam every single activity you can into every waking minute. This type will leave you more tired than when you left but all of the adventures will be remembered for many years to come.
The other kind is all about unwinding. You may not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps you spend a lot of time on the beach with some drinks. Or maybe you spend your whole vacation at some kind of resort, getting spoiled the entire time. These kinds of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect vacation. But untreated hearing loss can put a damper on whichever type of vacation you take.
Hearing loss can ruin a vacation
Your vacation can become a challenge if you have hearing loss, especially if you don’t know you have it. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many individuals have no idea they have it. They just keep turning the volume on their television louder and louder.
The good news is that there are some proven ways to lessen the impact 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 ready you are before you go.
How can your vacation be impacted by hearing loss
So how can your next vacation be negatively effected 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 begin to add up it can become a real problem. Here are some common instances:
- Meaningful moments with friends and family can be missed: Everybody loved the great joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you didn’t hear the punchline. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can miss significant (and enriching) conversations.
- The vibrant life of a new place can be missed: Your experience can be rather lackluster when everything you hear is muted. After all, you could miss out on the distinctive bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot unique and memorable.
- Getting past language barriers can be overwhelming: Coping with a language barrier is already hard enough. But untreated hearing loss can make it even more difficult to decipher voices (especially in a noisy setting).
- Essential notices come in but you often miss them: Perhaps you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you never hear the announcement. This can cast your entire vacation timing into chaos.
Not surprisingly, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative impacts can be mitigated and decreased. Which means the best way to keep your vacation on track and free of stress is to take care of your hearing needs before you go.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on a trip if you have hearing loss. That’s nowhere near the case! But it does mean that, when you have hearing loss, a little bit of extra planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as easily as possible. Whether you have hearing loss or not, this is definitely good travel advice.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- Pack extra batteries: There’s nothing worse than your hearing aid dying on day 1 because your batteries went dead. Don’t forget to bring some spare batteries. So are you allowed to bring spare batteries on a plane? Well, maybe, check with your airline. You might need to store your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
- Clean your hearing aids: 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 troubles on vacation. It’s also a good plan to make certain your suggested maintenance is current!
- Pre-planning is a smart idea: When you need to figure things out on the fly, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some challenges, so don’t be too spontaneous and plan as much as possible.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the preparation and planning have been done! Or possibly it’s the airways. Many people have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to recognize before you head to the airport.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? How well you can hear in the airport will depend on what airport it is and what time of day. But a telecoil device will normally be installed 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.
- If I use my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? Hearing aids are meant to be used every day, all day. So you should be using your hearing aids anytime you aren’t in a really loud place, swimming, or showering.
- Should I be aware of my rights? Before you travel it’s never a bad plan to become familiar with your rights. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, you’ll have many rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But basically, it boils down to this: information has to be available to you. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you suspect you’re missing some info and they should be able to help.
- Do I have to take my hearing aids out when I go through TSA security? You won’t need to remove your hearing aids for the security screening. That being said, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. If there is any type of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, make sure your hearing aids don’t go through that belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor style X-ray devices create.
- Can I wear my hearing aids while I’m on the plane? You won’t have to turn your hearing aids off when you hear that “all electronics must be off” spiel. But it’s a good idea to activate flight mode if your hearing aid relies heavily on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. You might also want to tell the flight attendants you have hearing loss, as there could be announcements during the flight that are hard to hear.
- How useful is my smartphone? This will not be surprising, but your smartphone is very helpful! You can utilize your smartphone to get directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the right type of hearing aid, you can use your smartphone to adjust your settings to your new environment. You might be able to take some strain off your ears if you’re able to utilize your phone like this.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Vacations are hard to predict with or without hearing loss. Not everything is going to go right all the time. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a good attitude.
That way you’ll still feel like your plans are on track even when the inevitable obstacle occurs.
But you will be caught off guard less if you put together good preparations. With the correct preparation, you can make sure you have options when something goes awry, so an inconvenience doesn’t turn into a disaster.
For individuals with hearing loss, this preparation frequently starts by getting your hearing assessed and making sure you have the hardware and care you need. And whether you’re on vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (relaxing on a tropical beach somewhere), this guidance will still hold.
Still have some questions or concerns? Make an appointment with us for a hearing test!