There are a couple of types of vacations, right? There’s the kind where you jam every single recreation you can into every waking minute. These are the trips that are remembered for years later and are packed with adventure, and you head back to work more exhausted than you left.
Then there are the relaxing kinds of vacations. These are the trips where you might not do, well, much of anything. Maybe you spend the entire time on the beach with some cocktails. Or perhaps you’re getting spoiled at some resort for your entire vacation. These kinds of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect vacation. But untreated hearing loss can jeopardize whichever type of vacation you choose.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
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 idea they have it. They just keep turning the volume on their tv louder and louder.
The good news is that there are a few tried and tested ways to reduce the impact hearing loss might have on your vacation. Scheduling a hearing test is obviously the first step. The more ready you are before you go, the easier it will be to minimize 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 impact your next vacation? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. Individually, they might not seem like that big of a deal. But when they start to add up it can become a real problem. Here are some common instances:
- You can miss significant moments with friends and family: Everybody enjoyed the great joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can miss important (and enriching) conversations.
- Getting beyond language barriers can be frustrating: Coping with a language barrier is already hard enough. But understanding voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s very loud, makes it much harder.
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience may be muted also. After all, your favorite vacation spot is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- Important notices come in but you often miss them: Perhaps you miss your flight because you didn’t hear the boarding call. And as a result, your whole vacation schedule is cast into total chaos.
Not surprisingly, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative effects can be lessened and minimized. So, taking care of your hearing requirements is the best way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction.
How to get ready for your vacation when you’re dealing with hearing loss
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on vacation if you have hearing loss. That’s nowhere near the case! But it does mean that, when you’re dealing with hearing loss, a little bit of added planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice no matter how good 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:
- Pre-planning is a good plan: When you need to figure things out on the fly, that’s when hearing loss can present some difficulties, so don’t be too spontaneous and plan as much as possible.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: It’s a good plan to make sure your hearing aids are clean and working correctly before you hop on a plane, train, or automobile. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re not so likely to have difficulties on vacation. It’s also a good plan to make sure your recommended maintenance is current!
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is no fun! Don’t forget to bring some spare batteries. Now, you may be thinking: can I have spare batteries in my luggage? Well, possibly, check with your airline. Some kinds of batteries need to be kept in your carry-on.
Hearing aid travel tips
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the preparation and planning have been done! Or, well, the airways, maybe. Before you go out to the airport, there are some things about flying with hearing aids you should certainly be aware of.
- Is it ok to fly with hearing aids in? When they tell you it’s time to off your electronic devices, you won’t be required to turn your hearing aids off. Having said that, 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 hard to hear.
- How useful is my smartphone? This will not be surprising, but your smartphone is very helpful! Once you land, you can use 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 may be able to take some stress off your ears if you can use your phone like this.
- Will I be able to hear well in the airport? How well you can hear in an airport will depend on what airport it is and what time of day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device setup throughout many areas. This is a simple wire device (although 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 noisy and chaotic.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need 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 plan to tell the TSA agents that you’re wearing them. 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 type X-ray devices create.
- If I wear my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? 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.
- Should I be aware of my rights? Before you travel it’s not a bad plan to become familiar with your rights. If you have hearing loss, you’ll have many rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Basically, you have to have access to information. 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.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Vacations are hard to predict with or without hearing loss. 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 manage your vacation like you’re embracing the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel as if your plans are on track even when the inevitable obstacle occurs.
But you will be caught off guard less if you put together good preparations. With the correct preparation, you can be sure you have options when something goes awry, so an inconvenience doesn’t grow into a disaster.
For individuals who have hearing loss, this preparation often starts by getting your hearing assessed 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 (relaxing on a tropical beach somewhere), this guidance will still hold.
Want to be certain you can hear the big world out there but still have concerns? Call us today!
