There are a couple of kinds of vacations, right? There’s the kind where you cram every single recreation you can into every waking minute. This kind will leave you more tired than when you left but all of the fun will be remembered for years to come.
Then there are the relaxing kinds of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Maybe you drink some wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) on the beach. Or perhaps you’re getting pampered at some resort for your whole vacation. These kinds of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
There’s no best to vacation. But neglected hearing loss can put a damper on whichever type of vacation you choose.
Hearing loss can ruin a vacation
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, especially if you don’t know you have it. Look, hearing loss can sneak up on you like nobody’s business, many people 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 proven ways to reduce the effect hearing loss could have on your vacation. The first move, of course, will be to make an appointment for a hearing screening if you haven’t already. The more prepared you are before you go, the easier it will be to lessen any power hearing loss might have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can hearing loss effect your vacation
So how can hearing loss negatively effect your next vacation? There are actually a small number of ways as it turns out. And while some of them may seem a bit trivial at first, they tend to add up! Some common illustrations include the following:
- You can miss important moments with friends and family: Maybe your friend just told a great joke that everyone enjoyed, except you couldn’t make out the punchline. When you have neglected hearing loss, you can miss significant (and enriching) conversations.
- Important notices come in but you often miss them: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you never hear the announcement. And as a result, your entire vacation schedule is thrown into total chaos.
- Language barriers are even more tricky: It’s difficult enough to overcome a language barrier. But understanding voices with hearing loss, especially when it’s really loud, makes it much harder.
- You can miss out on the vibrancy of a new place: 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.
Of course, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative impacts can be lessened and decreased. Which means the best way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction and stress free is to manage your hearing needs before you go.
How to get ready for your vacation when you have hearing loss
All of this isn’t to say that hearing loss makes a vacation impossible. That’s not at all true! But it does mean that, when you’re dealing with hearing loss, a little bit of extra planning and preparation, can help ensure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice no matter how strong your hearing is.
You can be certain that hearing loss won’t have a negative impact on your vacation, here are a few things you can do:
- Do a little pre-planning: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some difficulties, so don’t be overly spontaneous and plan as much as possible.
- Bring extra batteries: There’s nothing worse than your hearing aid dying the first day because your batteries went dead. Always make certain you bring spares! So are you allowed to bring spare batteries on a plane? Well, possibly, consult your airline. Some kinds of batteries need to be kept in your carry-on.
- 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 idea to make certain your suggested maintenance is current!
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. Many people have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to know 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 which airport it is and what time of day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device setup throughout many areas. This device is specifically made to help people who have hearing aids hear their environment better.
- Is it ok to fly with hearing aids in? When they announce that it’s time to turn off your electronic devices, you won’t be required to turn your hearing aids off. But it’s a good idea to enable flight mode if your hearing aid heavily relies on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. You might 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.
- Is it ok to wear my hearing aids longer than usual? Hearing aids are meant to be worn every day, all day. So you should be using your hearing aids anytime you aren’t in a really noisy setting, swimming, or showering.
- Do I need to take my hearing aids out when I go through TSA security? You can wear your hearing aids through the security screening process. That being said, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good plan. Never let your hearing aids go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Conveyor-belt style X-ray machines can produce a static charge that can damage your hearing devices.
- How helpful is my smartphone? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is extremely helpful! You can utilize 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. You may be able to take some strain off your ears if you’re able to utilize your phone like this.
- Do I have some rights I need to be aware of? Before you leave it’s not a bad idea to become familiar with your rights. 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. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you suspect you’re missing some info and they should be able to help.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Vacations are unpredictable with or without hearing loss. At times, the train can go off the rails. That’s why it’s important that you have a good attitude and treat your vacation like you’re embracing the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel as if your plans are moving in the right direction even when the inevitable challenge happens.
But you will be caught off guard less if you make good preparations. When something goes wrong, with the right preparations, you can keep it from getting out of control.
For those who have hearing loss, this preparation frequently begins by having your hearing tested 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 (chilling on a tropical beach somewhere), this advice will still hold.
Want to make sure you can hear the big world out there but still have questions? Schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test!