There are two types of vacations, right? One kind is full of activities at all times. These are the vacations 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. You may not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Perhaps you drink some wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) at the beach. Or perhaps you’re getting pampered at some resort for your whole vacation. These types of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect vacation. But untreated hearing loss can put a damper on whichever kind of vacation you choose.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
There are some unique ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more challenging, especially if you don’t recognize you have hearing loss. Many individuals who have hearing loss don’t even recognize they have it and it eventually sneaks up on them. On all their devices, the volume just continues going up and up.
But the effect that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be minimized with some proven methods, 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 could have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can your vacation be impacted by hearing loss
So how can your next vacation be negatively effected by hearing loss? Well, there are a couple of ways. By themselves, they may not seem like that big of a deal. But when they begin to compound it can become a real problem. Some common illustrations include the following:
- Language barriers become even more challenging: It’s difficult enough to deal with a language barrier. But untreated hearing loss can make it even harder to decipher voices (particularly in a noisy setting).
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience could be muted also. After all, you could miss out on the unique bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot special and memorable.
- Essential notices come in but you frequently miss them: Maybe you miss your flight because you failed to hear the boarding call. And as a result, your entire vacation schedule is thrown into absolute chaos.
- You can miss important moments with family and friends: Perhaps your friend just told a hilarious 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 impacts can be lessened and minimized. Which means the best way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction and free of stress is to take care of your hearing needs before you go.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on a trip if you have hearing loss. That’s not at all the case! But it does mean that, when you’re dealing with hearing loss, a little bit of additional planning and preparation, can help ensure your vacation goes as easily as possible. Whether or not you have hearing loss, this is obviously practical travel advice.
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! Always make sure you bring spares! So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? Well, maybe, check with your airline. You might need to keep your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
- Pre-planning is a good plan: It’s okay to be spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do ahead of time, the less you’ll have to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can present more obstacles).
- Clean your hearing aids: It’s a smart plan to make sure your hearing aids are clean and working correctly before you get on a plane, train, or automobile. This can help prevent problems 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 preparation and planning is done, it’s time to hit the road! Or, well, the airways, possibly. Many individuals have questions about flying with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to understand before you head to the airport.
- Is it ok to fly with hearing aids in? You won’t need to turn your hearing aids off when you get that “all electronics must be off” announcement. But it’s a good plan to activate flight mode if your hearing aid relies heavily on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. 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.
- Will my smartphone be useful? Your smartphone is really useful, not surprisingly. After 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. If your phone is capable of doing all that (and you know how to use all those apps), it may take some strain off your ears.
- If I use my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? Most hearing specialists will suggest that you wear your hearing aids all day, every day. So, any time you aren’t sleeping, taking a shower, or going for a swim (or in a really loud environment), you should be wearing your devices.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need to take out my hearing aids? You won’t need to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. It’s usually a good idea to let the TSA agents know you’re wearing them. Never allow your hearing aids to go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Conveyor-belt style X-ray machines can generate a static charge that can damage your hearing aids.
- Should I be aware of my rights? It’s a good idea! Generally, it’s smart to familiarize yourself with your rights before you go. Under the American Disabilities Act, people with hearing loss have lots of special rights. But essentially, it boils down to this: information has to be available to you. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you think you are missing some info and they should be able to help.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? How well you can hear in an airport will depend on which airport it is and what time of day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device fitted throughout many areas. This device is specifically made to help individuals who have hearing aids hear their environment better.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are unpredictable. Not everything is going to go right all the time. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a good attitude.
That way you’ll still feel as if your plans are moving in the right direction even when the unavoidable challenge happens.
But you will be caught off guard less if you put together good preparations. When something goes wrong, with the correct preparations, you can keep it from spiraling out of control.
Getting a hearing examination and making certain you have the right equipment is commonly the start of that preparation for people with hearing loss. And that’s accurate whether you’re going to every museum in New York City (vacation type number one) or lounging around on a beach in Mexico (vacation type number two).
Want to be certain you can hear the big world out there but still have questions? Make an appointment with us for a hearing exam!