Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? One type is full of activities the whole time. These are the trips that are remembered for years later and are full of adventure, and you head back to work more tired than you left.
Then there are the relaxing kinds of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Maybe you drink a bit of wine. Maybe you spend a day (or two, or three) at the beach. Or possibly you spend your entire vacation at some sort of resort, getting spoiled the entire time. These kinds of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
There’s no best to vacation. Whichever way you prefer, however, neglected hearing loss can put your vacation in jeopardy.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
Your vacation can become a challenge if you have hearing loss, particularly if you’re not aware of it. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many individuals have no clue they have it. The volume on all their devices just keeps going higher and higher.
The good news is that there are some proven ways to reduce the effect hearing loss might have on your vacation. The first move, of course, will be to schedule a hearing screening if you haven’t already. The more prepared 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 your vacation be impacted by hearing loss
So how can hearing loss negatively impact your next vacation? Well, there are a couple of ways. And while some of them might seem a bit trivial at first, they have a tendency to add up! Here are some common examples:
- Getting beyond language barriers can be overwhelming: Coping with a language barrier is already hard enough. But deciphering voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s very noisy, makes it much harder.
- The radiant 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 unique bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot unique and memorable.
- Important notices come in but you often miss them: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or plane to board, but you don’t ever hear the announcement. And as a consequence, your whole vacation schedule is thrown into total disarray.
- You can miss important moments with family and friends: Everyone loved the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. Important and enriching conversations can be missed when you have untreated hearing loss.
Not surprisingly, 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 on track and free of stress is to manage your hearing needs before you go.
How to prepare for your vacation when you have hearing loss
All of this doesn’t mean that hearing loss makes a vacation impossible. That’s not at all true! But it does mean that, when you have hearing loss, a little bit of added planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as easily as possible. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice no matter how good your hearing is.
Here are several things you can do to ensure hearing loss doesn’t negatively effect your next vacation:
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is the worst! Remember to bring some spare batteries. So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? Well, possibly, check with your airline. You may need to store your batteries in your carry-on depending on the type of battery.
- Pre-planning is a smart plan: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can present some challenges, so don’t be too spontaneous and plan as much as you can.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: It’s a good plan to make certain your hearing aids are clean and working correctly before you jump on a plane, train, or automobile. This can help avoid issues from developing while you’re on your vacation. It’s also a good idea to make sure your recommended maintenance is up to date!
Hearing aid travel tips
Once all the planning and preparation is done, it’s time to hit the road! Or, well, the airways, maybe. Many individuals have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are certainly some good things to recognize before you go to the airport.
- How helpful is my smartphone? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is very useful! You can use your smartphone to get directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the right kind of hearing aid, you can utilize your smartphone to adjust your settings to your new environment. If your phone is prepared to do all that (and you know how to use all those apps), it could take some stress off your ears.
- Can I wear my hearing aids on the plane? You won’t need to turn off your hearing aids when you hear that “all electronics must be off” spiel. That said, you might want to enable flight mode on hearing aids that heavily rely on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You may also want to let the flight attendants know you have hearing loss, as there could be announcements during the flight that are hard to hear.
- Should I be aware of my rights? It’s not a bad idea! Generally, it’s smart to familiarize yourself with your rights before you go. If you have hearing loss, you’ll have lots of rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But essentially, it comes down to this: information must be available to you. So if you think you’re missing out on some information, let an airport official know that you have hearing loss and they should offer a solution.
- 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, showering, or going for a swim (or in a really noisy setting), you should be using your devices.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I be required to remove my hearing aids? You won’t need to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. It’s generally a good plan to let the TSA agents know you’re wearing them. If there is any kind of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, be certain that your hearing aids don’t go through that belt. Conveyor-belt style X-ray machines can create a static charge that can damage your hearing devices.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? How well you can hear in the airport will depend on what airport it is and what time of day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device installed throughout many areas. This device is specially made to help people who have hearing aids hear their surroundings better.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are hard to predict. Not everything is going to go the way you planned it all the time. That’s why it’s essential to have a positive mindset and treat your vacation like you’re taking on the unanticipated.
That way, when something unforeseen occurs (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
But you will be surprised less if you put together good preparations. When something goes wrong, with the correct preparations, you can keep it from getting out of control.
For individuals with hearing loss, this preparation often begins by having your hearing evaluated and making sure you have the equipment and care you require. And that’s the case whether you’re visiting every museum in New York City (vacation type number one) or lounging around on a beach in Mexico (vacation type number two).
Still have some questions or concerns? Make an appointment with us for a hearing test!
