There are two kinds of vacations, right? One type is full of activities at all times. These are the vacations that are remembered for years later and are full of adventure, and you go back to work more worn out than you left.
The other kind is all about relaxing. These are the trips where you might not do, well, much of anything. Maybe you drink a bit of wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) on the beach. Or possibly you spend your whole vacation at some kind of resort, getting pampered the entire time. These are the peaceful and relaxing kinds of vacations.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect vacation. Whatever way you choose, however, untreated hearing loss can put your vacation at risk.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
There are some unique ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more difficult, especially 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. They just keep turning the volume on their tv louder and louder.
The nice thing is that there are a few proven ways to lessen the effect hearing loss might have on your vacation. Making an appointment for a hearing test is definitely the first step. The more prepared you are before you go, the easier it will be to diminish any power hearing loss might have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can hearing loss effect your vacation
So how can your next vacation be negatively impacted by hearing loss? Well, there are a couple of ways. By themselves, they may not seem like that big of a deal. But when they start to compound it can become a real issue. Here are some common instances:
- You can miss significant moments with family and friends: Perhaps your friend just told a great joke that everybody loved, except you couldn’t hear the punchline. Important and enriching conversations can be missed when you have untreated hearing loss.
- Language barriers are even more tricky: It’s difficult enough to overcome a language barrier. But neglected hearing loss can make it even more difficult to decipher voices (particularly in a noisy situation).
- You miss crucial notices: Maybe you miss your flight because you failed to hear the boarding call. And as a result, your entire vacation schedule is cast into absolute chaos.
- You can miss out on the radiance of a new place: 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 special and memorable.
Not surprisingly, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative effects can be mitigated and decreased. So, managing your hearing requirements is the best way to keep your vacation on track.
If you have hearing loss, how can you prepare for your vacation?
All of this doesn’t mean that hearing loss makes a vacation unachievable. That’s not at all true! But with a bit of extra planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and fairly stress-free. Whether or not you have hearing loss, this is clearly practical travel advice.
Here are some things you can do to ensure hearing loss doesn’t negatively effect 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, possibly, consult your airline. You may need to store your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: Before you leave on your travels, make sure you clean your hearing aids. This can help avoid issues from developing while you’re on your vacation. It’s also a good plan to make certain your suggested maintenance is current!
- Do some pre-planning: It’s okay to remain spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do beforehand, the less you’ll have to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can introduce more difficulties).
Hearing aid travel tips
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the planning and preparation have been done! Or, well, the airways, maybe. Many people have questions about going on a plane with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to recognize before you head to the airport.
- Can I wear my hearing aids while I’m on the plane? You won’t have to turn off your hearing aids when you get that “all electronics must be off” spiel. That said, you might want to activate 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 could be announcements throughout the flight that are hard to hear.
- Do I have some rights I need to be aware of? It’s a good idea! Generally, it’s smart to become familiar with your rights before you travel. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, you’ll have many rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Basically, you must 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 should offer a solution.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I be required to remove my hearing aids? You can keep your hearing aids in when you go through the security screening process. It’s usually a good idea to let the TSA agents know you’re wearing them. If there is any kind 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 produce.
- Is it ok to wear my hearing aids longer than usual? Most hearing specialists will recommend 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 really loud setting), you should be wearing your devices.
- 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 usually be set up in many areas of most modern airports. This device is specially made to help individuals with hearing aids hear their surroundings better.
- Will my smartphone be useful? Your smartphone is really useful, not surprisingly. Once you land, you can utilize this device to adjust the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the right type 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 utilize your phone in this way.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have loss of hearing or not, vacations are unpredictable. Not everything is going to go right all the time. That’s why it’s essential that you have a positive mindset and manage your vacation like you’re taking on the unanticipated.
That way, when something unexpected takes place (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
However, the other side to that is that preparation can make a difference. With the right preparation, you can be sure you have options when something goes wrong, so an inconvenience doesn’t turn into a disaster.
For those who have hearing loss, this preparation often starts by having your hearing evaluated and making sure you have the hardware and care you require. 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? Give us a call today!