There are a couple of types of vacations, right? One type is full of activities the whole time. 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. You might not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps you drink a bit of wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) at the beach. Or possibly you spend your whole vacation at some sort of resort, getting pampered the entire time. These types of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
There’s no best to vacation. But untreated hearing loss can jeopardize whichever kind of vacation you choose.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, particularly if you don’t know you have it. Look, hearing loss can sneak up on you like nobody’s business, many people have no clue they have it. The volume on all their devices just keeps going up and up.
The nice thing is that there are a few tried and tested ways to minimize the impact hearing loss might have on your vacation. Scheduling a hearing exam is definitely the first step. The more prepared you are ahead of time, the easier it will be to diminish any power hearing loss could have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can hearing loss impact your vacation
So how can your next vacation be negatively impacted by hearing loss? Well, there are a couple of ways. Individually, they might not seem like that big of a deal. But when they begin to compound it can become a real issue. Some common examples include the following:
- Getting past language barriers can be overwhelming: Managing a language barrier is already difficult enough. But understanding voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s really loud, makes it much harder.
- You can miss out on the vibrancy of a new place: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience may be muted too. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like active street sounds or singing birds.
- Meaningful moments with friends and family can be missed: Perhaps your friend just told a great joke that everyone loved, except you couldn’t make out the punchline. Important and enriching conversations can be missed when you have neglected hearing loss.
- Essential notices come in but you frequently miss them: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you never hear the announcement. And as a consequence, your entire vacation schedule is cast into total chaos.
A number of these negative outcomes can be avoided by simply using your hearing aids. So, managing your hearing requirements is the ideal way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on vacation if you have hearing loss. Not by any Means! But with a little additional planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and fairly hassle-free. Whether you have hearing loss or not, this is clearly good travel advice.
You can be sure that hearing loss won’t have a negative effect on your vacation, here are a number of things you can do:
- Clean your hearing aids: It’s a smart plan to make certain your hearing aids are clean and working properly before you jump on a plane, train, or automobile. This can help avoid problems from happening while you’re on your vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their regular maintenance is also a smart plan.
- Do some pre-planning: When you have to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some difficulties, so don’t be too spontaneous and prepare as much as possible.
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is no fun! Always make certain you bring spares! Now, you might be thinking: can I bring spare batteries in my luggage? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on which airline you’re using. You might be required to store your batteries in your carry-on depending on the type of battery.
Hearing aid travel tips
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the preparation and planning have been done! Or maybe it’s the airways. Before you head out to the airport, there are some things about going on a plane with hearing aids you should definitely be aware of.
- 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 go. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have lots of special rights. Basically, you must have access to information. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you feel like you are missing some information and they will most likely be able to help.
- Is it ok to use my hearing aids longer than normal? Hearing aids are designed to be used every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, showering, or swimming (or in a really loud environment), you should be wearing your devices.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? That will depend, some airports are really noisy during certain times of the day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device fitted throughout many areas. This device is specially made to help individuals who have hearing aids hear their surroundings better.
- Can I wear my hearing aids on the plane? You won’t have to turn your hearing aids off when you get that “all electronics must be off” spiel. That said, you may want to enable flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You might also want to let the flight attendants know you have hearing loss, as there may be announcements during the flight that are difficult to hear.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need to remove my hearing aids? You won’t be required to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. That being said, telling the TSA agents you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good plan. If there is any kind of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, make sure your hearing aids do not go through that belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor style X-ray devices create.
- How helpful is my smartphone? Your smartphone is very helpful, not shockingly. Once you land, you can use this device to change the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the right kind of hearing aid), find directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. You might be able to take some stress off your ears if you can use your phone like this.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are hard to predict. Sometimes, the train can go off the rails. That’s why it’s essential that you have a good attitude and treat your vacation like you’re embracing the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel like your plans are moving in the right direction even when the unavoidable obstacle arises.
But you will be caught off guard less if you put together good preparations. When something goes amiss, with the correct preparations, you can keep it from spiraling out of control.
For people who have hearing loss, this preparation often begins by having your hearing evaluated and making certain you have the hardware and care you need. And whether you’re taking vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (relaxing 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? Give us a call today!