Aren’t there a couple of types of vacation? One type is Packed with activities the whole time. These are the trips that are remembered 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 unwinding. You might not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps you drink some wine. Perhaps you spend a day (or two, or three) at the beach. Or maybe you’re getting pampered at some resort for your whole vacation. These types of vacations will leave you really rested and recharged.
There’s no best to vacation. But untreated 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, particularly if you’re not aware of it. Many people who have hearing loss don’t even realize they have it and it eventually sneaks up on them. The volume on all their devices just keeps going higher and higher.
The nice thing is that there are a few tried and tested ways to lessen the effect hearing loss might have on your vacation. Scheduling a hearing test is definitely the first step. The impact that hearing loss has on your good times will be greatly reduced the more ready you are in advance.
How can your vacation be effected by hearing loss
So how can your next vacation be adversely effected by hearing loss? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. And while some of them might seem a little trivial at first, they have a tendency to add up! Here are a few common examples:
- You can miss significant moments with family and friends: Everyone enjoyed the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. Significant and enriching conversations can be missed when you have neglected hearing loss.
- You can miss out on the vibrancy of a new place: Your experience can be rather dull when everything you hear is muted. After all, your favorite vacation spot is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- Getting past language barriers can be frustrating: It’s hard enough to contend with a language barrier. But neglected hearing loss can make it even more difficult to decipher voices (especially in a noisy situation).
- You miss crucial notices: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or plane to board, but you never hear the announcement. This can throw your entire vacation timing into chaos.
Some of these negative situations can be averted by simply using your hearing aids. Which means the proper way to keep your vacation moving in the right direction and free of stress is to manage your hearing needs before you go.
How to get ready for your vacation when you have hearing loss
All of this isn’t to say that hearing loss makes a vacation unachievable. Not by any Means! But with a little extra planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and fairly stress-free. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice regardless of how good your hearing is.
Here are some things you can do to make sure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is the worst! Always make certain you bring spares! So are you allowed to bring spare batteries on a plane? Well, maybe, consult your airline. Some types of batteries need to be kept in your carry-on.
- Pre-planning is a smart plan: It’s okay to remain spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do before you go, the less you’ll need to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can introduce more challenges).
- Clean your hearing aids: Before you head out on your travels, make sure you clean your hearing aids. If you have clean hearing aids, you’re less likely to have troubles on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their scheduled maintenance is also a smart idea.
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. Many individuals have questions about going on a plane with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to know before you go to the airport.
- Do I have some rights I need to know about? Before you travel it’s not a bad idea 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 info, let an airport official know that you have hearing loss and they will most likely offer a solution.
- Will my smartphone be helpful? Your smartphone is really useful, not shockingly. You can use your smartphone to get directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the right type 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 could take some stress off your ears.
- Can I wear my hearing aids while I’m on the plane? You won’t have to turn off your hearing aids when you hear that “all electronics must be off” spiel. That said, you might want to activate flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. You may 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.
- Will I be able to hear well in the 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 setup throughout many areas. This device is specifically made to help individuals who have hearing aids hear their surroundings better.
- Is it ok to wear my hearing aids longer than usual? Hearing aids are meant to be worn every day, all day. So you should be using your hearing aids whenever you’re not in a really loud setting, swimming, or showering.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need to take out my hearing aids? You can keep your hearing aids in when you go through the security screening process. That being said, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. Never 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 style X-ray devices generate.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Vacations are hard to predict with or without hearing loss. At times, the train can go off the rails. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a good mindset.
That way, when something unexpected happens (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
But you will be surprised 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 turn into a catastrophe.
Having a hearing test and making certain you have the right equipment is commonly the beginning of that preparation for people who have hearing loss. And that’s true whether you’re visiting every museum in New York City (vacation type number one) or taking it easy 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? Schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test!