Aren’t there a couple of types of vacation? One kind is Packed with activities at all times. These are the vacations that are recalled for years later and are full of adventure, and you go back to work more exhausted than you left.
Then there are the relaxing types of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Perhaps you spend a lot of time on the beach with some cocktails. Or maybe you spend your whole vacation at some kind of resort, getting spoiled the whole time. These types 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 kind of vacation you choose.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
Your vacation can become a challenge if you have hearing loss, especially if you don’t know you have it. Many people who have hearing loss don’t even realize they have it and it eventually sneaks up on them. On all their devices, the volume just continues going up and up.
But the impact that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be reduced with some tried and tested strategies, and that’s the good news. The first step, of course, will be to schedule a hearing screening if you haven’t already. The more ready you are ahead of time, the easier it will be to minimize any power hearing loss might have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can your vacation be effected by hearing loss
So how can hearing loss negatively effect 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 compound it can become a real problem. Here are a few common instances:
- You miss important notices: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you don’t ever hear the announcement. This can throw your entire vacation timing into chaos.
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience could be muted as well. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like active street sounds or singing birds.
- Getting beyond language barriers can be overwhelming: It’s hard enough to deal with a language barrier. But understanding voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s very noisy, makes it much harder.
- Meaningful moments with friends and relatives can be missed: Perhaps your friend just told a great joke that everybody loved, except you couldn’t make out the punchline. Significant and enriching conversations can be missed when you have neglected hearing loss.
Of course, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative effects can be lessened and minimized. So, managing your hearing needs is the best way to keep your vacation on track.
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. That’s not at all true! But with a bit of extra planning and preparation, your vacation can still be fun and fairly hassle-free. Whether or not you have hearing loss, this is definitely practical travel advice.
You can be certain that hearing loss won’t have a negative effect on your vacation, here are some things you can do:
- Pre-planning is a good idea: It’s okay to remain spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do beforehand, the less you’ll have to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can introduce more challenges).
- Bring extra batteries: There’s nothing worse than your hearing aid dying the first day because your batteries quit. Remember to bring some spare batteries. So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on which airline you’re using. You might be required to put your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: Before you go out on your travels, make sure you clean your hearing aids. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re not so likely to have troubles on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their regular maintenance is also a good plan.
Hearing aid travel tips
Finally, it’s time to hit the road now that all the planning and preparation have been done! Or possibly it’s the airways. Many individuals have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are certainly some good things to know before you go to the airport.
- Do I have to take out my hearing aids when I go through TSA security? You won’t need to remove your hearing aids for the security screening. That being said, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good plan. Don’t ever let your hearing aids go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor type X-ray devices generate.
- How helpful is my smartphone? This will not be surprising, but your smartphone is very useful! You can utilize your smartphone to find 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 may take some strain off your ears.
- Is it ok to take a flight with hearing aids in? When they tell you it’s time to off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. Having said that, you might want to activate flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. Some of the in-flight announcements could be difficult to hear so be certain that you let the flight attendants know about your hearing loss.
- 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 a telecoil device will usually be set up in many areas of most modern airports. 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 loud and chaotic.
- Do I have some rights I need to know about? It’s not a bad idea! Generally, it’s good 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 have to have access to information. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you feel like you’re missing some info and they will most likely be able to help.
- Is it ok to wear my hearing aids longer than normal? Most hearing specialists will suggest that you use your hearing aids all day, every day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, showering, or going for a swim (or in a really noisy environment), you should be using your devices.
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. So be prepared for the unexpected and try to have a positive attitude.
That way, when something unexpected occurs (and it will), it’ll seem 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 going out of control.
Having a hearing test and making certain you have the correct equipment is commonly the start of that preparation for individuals with hearing loss. And that’s accurate whether you’re visiting every museum in New York City (vacation type number one) or hanging out on a beach in Mexico (vacation type number two).
Still have some questions or concerns? Call us today!
