There are a couple of kinds of vacations, right? There’s the kind where you jam every single activity you can into every single minute. These are the trips that are remembered for years later and are packed with adventure, and you go back to work more worn out than you left.
Then there are the relaxing kinds of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps you spend the entire time on the beach with some drinks. Or maybe you’re getting pampered at some resort for your entire vacation. These are the peaceful and relaxing types of vacations.
There’s no best to vacation. Whatever method you prefer, 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 challenging, especially if you don’t recognize you have hearing loss. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many people have no clue they have it. They just keep cranking the volume on their television up and up and up.
But the effect 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 test is obviously the first step. The effect that hearing loss has on your good times will be greatly reduced the more ready you are in advance.
How can your vacation be effected by hearing loss
So how can hearing loss negatively impact your next vacation? There are actually a small number of ways as it turns out. Individually, they may not seem like that big of a deal. But when they begin to add up it can become a real issue. Here are a few common examples:
- You can miss out on the vibrancy of a new place: Your experience can be rather lackluster when everything you hear is dull. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- Essential notices come in but you frequently miss them: Maybe you miss your flight because you didn’t hear the boarding call. And as a consequence, your whole vacation schedule is cast into total chaos.
- Language barriers are even more challenging: Coping with a language barrier is already hard enough. But neglected hearing loss can make it even harder to decipher voices (particularly in a noisy situation).
- Special experiences with friends and family can be missed: Everyone enjoyed the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you didn’t hear the punchline. When you have neglected hearing loss, you can miss important (and enriching) conversations.
Some of these negative outcomes can be averted by simply wearing your hearing aids. 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.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
All of this doesn’t mean that hearing loss makes a vacation unachievable. That’s not at all the case! But with a bit of extra planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and fairly hassle-free. Whether you have hearing loss or not, this is definitely good travel advice.
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 have to figure things out on the fly, that’s when hearing loss can present some difficulties, so don’t be too spontaneous and prepare as much as possible.
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is the worst! Always make certain you bring spares! Now, you might be thinking: can I have spare batteries in my luggage? The exact rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. Some kinds of batteries need to be stored in your carry-on.
- Clean your hearing aids: It’s a smart idea to make sure your hearing aids are clean and functioning correctly before you get on a plane, train, or automobile. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re much less likely to have difficulties on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their scheduled maintenance is also a good idea.
Hearing aid travel tips
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 individuals have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to recognize before you head to the airport.
- How useful is my smartphone? Your smartphone is really helpful, not surprisingly. You can utilize your smartphone to find directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the correct type of hearing aid, you can utilize your smartphone to adjust your settings to your new environment. You might be able to take some strain off your ears if you can utilize your phone like this.
- Should I be aware of my rights? It’s a good idea! In general, it’s smart to familiarize yourself with your rights before you go. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have many special rights. But basically, it amounts to this: information must be accessible to you. Talk to an airport official about a solution if you think you are missing some info and they should be able to help.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I be required to take out my hearing aids? You won’t be required to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. Having said that, telling the TSA agents you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good plan. Never allow your hearing aids to go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor style X-ray devices produce.
- If I use my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Hearing aids are designed to be worn every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, taking a shower, or going for a swim (or in a really loud setting), you should be using your devices.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? How well you can hear in an airport will depend on which airport it is and what time of day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device installed throughout many areas. 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.
- Is it ok to take a flight with hearing aids in? You won’t have to turn off your hearing aids when you get that “all electronics must be off” announcement. Having said that, you may want to enable flight mode on hearing aids that heavily rely on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You may also want to tell the flight attendants you have hearing loss, as there could be announcements throughout the flight that are difficult to hear.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
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 good attitude and treat your vacation like you’re taking on the unanticipated.
That way, when something unforeseen happens (and it will), it’ll seem like it’s all part of the plan!
Of course, the flip side to that is that preparation can go a long way. With the correct preparation, you can make sure you have options when something goes awry, so an inconvenience doesn’t grow into a catastrophe.
Having a hearing examination and making sure you have the correct equipment is commonly the start of that preparation for people with hearing loss. And whether you’re taking vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (relaxing 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? Make an appointment with us for a hearing exam!