Aren’t there a couple of types of vacation? There’s the type where you jam every single activity you can into every single second. These are the vacations that are recalled for years later and are full of adventure, and you head back to work more worn out than you left.
The other kind is all about relaxing. You may not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Perhaps you drink some wine. Maybe you spend a day (or two, or three) on the beach. Or maybe you’re getting pampered at some resort for your entire vacation. These are the restful and relaxing kinds of vacations.
There’s no best to vacation. But neglected hearing loss can jeopardize whichever type of vacation you take.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, especially if you’re not aware of it. Many individuals who have hearing loss don’t even know they have it and it eventually creeps up on them. 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 lessened with some proven methods, and that’s the good news. Making an appointment for a hearing test is definitely the first step. The impact that hearing loss has on your fun times will be greatly reduced the more ready you are ahead of time.
How can your vacation be impacted by hearing loss
So how can your next vacation be negatively impacted by hearing loss? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. By themselves, they may not seem like that big of a deal. But when they start to add up it can become a real issue. Here are some common examples:
- Meaningful experiences with friends and relatives can be missed: Maybe your friend just told a hilarious joke that everybody enjoyed, except you couldn’t make out the punchline. Significant and enriching conversations can be missed when you have neglected hearing loss.
- Getting past language barriers can be frustrating: Dealing with a language barrier is already difficult enough. But untreated hearing loss can make it even more difficult to decipher voices (particularly in a noisy setting).
- You can miss out on the radiance of a new place: Your experience can be rather lackluster when everything you hear is muted. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like active street sounds or singing birds.
- You miss crucial notices: Maybe you miss your flight because you failed to hear the boarding call. And as a result, your entire vacation schedule is thrown into total disarray.
A number of these negative outcomes can be prevented by simply wearing your hearing aids. So, taking care of your hearing requirements is the ideal way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction.
How to get ready 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 with a little additional planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and relatively stress-free. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice regardless of how good your hearing is.
You can be sure that hearing loss won’t have a negative impact on your vacation, here are a number of things you can do:
- Pre-planning is a smart idea: When you have to figure things out on the fly, that’s when hearing loss can present some difficulties, so don’t be overly spontaneous and prepare as much as you can.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: It’s a smart plan to make sure your hearing aids are clean and working properly before you hop on a plane, train, or automobile. This can help avoid issues from happening while you’re on your vacation. It’s also a good idea to make sure your suggested maintenance is up to date!
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is no fun! Don’t forget to bring some spare batteries. 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 put your batteries in your carry-on depending on the type of battery.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
Once all the preparation and planning 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 know before you head to the airport.
- Will my smartphone be helpful? Your smartphone is really useful, not surprisingly. 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), get directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. If your phone is capable of doing all that (and you know how to use all those apps), it may take some stress off your ears.
- Should I be aware of my rights? Before you leave it’s not a bad plan to become familiar with your rights. Under the American Disabilities Act, individuals with hearing loss have lots of special rights. But essentially, it comes down to this: information has to be accessible to you. So if you feel like you’re missing out on some info, let an airport official know that you have hearing loss and they will most likely offer a solution.
- Can I use my hearing aids on the plane? When they announce that it’s time to off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. Having said that, you may want to activate flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You may also want to tell the flight attendants you have hearing loss, as there may be announcements during the flight that are hard to hear.
- If I use my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Hearing aids are designed to be worn every day, all day. So you should be using your hearing aids anytime you’re not in an extremely noisy setting, swimming, or showering.
- Do I have to take out my hearing aids when I go through TSA security? You won’t need to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. Having said that, letting the TSA agents know 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 type X-ray devices create.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? That depends, some airports are very noisy during certain times of the day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device setup 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.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have loss of hearing or not, vacations are unpredictable. Sometimes, the train can go off the rails. That’s why it’s essential to have a positive attitude and treat your vacation like you’re taking on the unexpected.
That way, when something unforeseen happens (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
But you will be surprised less if you make good preparations. With the correct preparation, you can be sure you have options when something goes wrong, so an inconvenience doesn’t turn into a catastrophe.
Having a hearing examination and making sure you have the right equipment is usually the start of that preparation for people with hearing loss. 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 questions? Give us a call today!