Aren’t there a couple of types of vacation? One type is full of activities at all times. This type will leave you more tired than when you left but all of the adventures will be recalled for many years to come.
The other kind is all about relaxing. These are the trips where you might not do, well, much of anything. Perhaps you spend a lot of time on the beach with some drinks. Or possibly you spend your entire vacation at some kind of resort, getting pampered the whole time. These are the restful and relaxing types of vacations.
Everyone has their own concept of the perfect vacation. But untreated hearing loss can jeopardize whichever type of vacation you choose.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
There are some distinct ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more difficult, particularly if you don’t know you have hearing loss. Many people 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 louder and louder.
But the impact that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be minimized with some tried and tested methods, and that’s the good news. Making an appointment for a hearing test is obviously the first step. The more ready you are ahead of time, the easier it will be to reduce any power hearing loss might have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can hearing loss impact your vacation
So how can hearing loss negatively impact your next vacation? There are actually a small number of ways as it turns out. By themselves, they may not seem like that big of a deal. But when they start to add up it can become a real issue. Here are some common examples:
- You can miss out on the radiance of a new place: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience could be muted too. After all, you could fail to hear the distinctive bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot special and memorable.
- Getting beyond language barriers can be overwhelming: It’s difficult enough to contend with a language barrier. But untreated hearing loss can make it even harder to understand voices (particularly in a noisy situation).
- You can miss important moments with friends and family: Maybe your friend just told a great joke that everybody loved, except you couldn’t make out the punchline. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can miss important (and enriching) conversations.
- You miss significant notices: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or plane to board, but you never hear the announcement. This can cast your entire vacation timing into chaos.
A number of these negative situations can be averted by simply using your hearing aids. So, taking care of 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 a trip if you have hearing loss. That’s not at all the case! But it does mean that, when you have hearing loss, a little bit of additional planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. Of course, that’s pretty common travel advice regardless of how good your hearing is.
Here are several things you can do to make sure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- Clean your hearing aids: Before you head out on your travels, be certain that you clean your hearing aids. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re not so likely to have troubles on vacation. It’s also a good plan to make sure your recommended maintenance is up to date!
- Do a little pre-planning: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some challenges, so don’t be overly spontaneous and prepare as much as you can.
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is no fun! Always make sure you bring spares! Now, you might be thinking: can I have spare batteries in my luggage? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. Some kinds of batteries need to be kept in your carry-on.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the planning and preparation have been done! Or possibly it’s the airways. Before you go out to the airport, there are a few things about flying with hearing aids you should definitely be aware of.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? That depends, some airports are quite noisy during certain times of the day. But a telecoil device will usually be installed in many areas of most modern airports. This device is specially made to help people with hearing aids hear their surroundings better.
- How helpful is my smartphone? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is very helpful! You can use your smartphone to find 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. If your phone is capable of doing all that (and you know how to use all those apps), it could take some strain off your ears.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I be required to remove my hearing aids? You can wear your hearing aids through the security screening process. That being said, telling the TSA agents you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. If there is any kind of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, be certain that 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 generate.
- Can I use my hearing aids while I’m on the plane? You won’t need to turn your hearing aids off when you get that “all electronics must be off” spiel. But it’s a good plan to activate flight mode if your hearing aid relies heavily on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. 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.
- Should I be aware of my rights? Before you leave it’s not a bad idea to become familiar with your rights. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have many special rights. Basically, you have to have access to information. So if you feel like you’re missing out on some information, let an airport official know that you have hearing loss and they will most likely offer help.
- If I use my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Most hearing specialists will suggest that you use your hearing aids all day, every day. So, any time you aren’t sleeping, taking a shower, or swimming (or in a super noisy environment), you should be wearing your devices.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Vacations are unpredictable with or without hearing loss. Not everything is going to go right all the time. That’s why it’s important to have a positive attitude and manage your vacation like you’re embracing the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel like your plans are on track even when the inevitable challenge happens.
However, the flip side to that is that preparation can make a difference. When something goes amiss, with the right preparations, you can keep it from going out of control.
Getting a hearing exam and making certain you have the correct equipment is usually the start of that preparation for individuals who have hearing loss. And whether you’re on vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (chilling on a tropical beach somewhere), this advice will still hold.
Still have some questions or concerns? Give us a call today!