Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? One type is Packed with activities at all times. This type will leave you more exhausted than when you left but all of the fun will be remembered for many years to come.
The other kind is all about relaxing. You may not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Perhaps you spend the entire time on the beach with some cocktails. Or maybe you spend your entire vacation at some kind of resort, getting pampered the entire time. These are the peaceful and relaxing types of vacations.
There’s no best to vacation. Whatever way you choose, however, untreated hearing loss can put your vacation at risk.
Hearing loss can spoil a vacation
There are a few distinct ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more difficult, especially if you don’t recognize you have hearing loss. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many individuals have no clue they have it. They just keep cranking the volume on their television louder and louder.
But the effect that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be reduced with some tried and tested methods, and that’s the good news. The first move, of course, will be to schedule a hearing screening if you haven’t already. The effect that hearing loss has on your fun times will be greatly diminished the more prepared you are in advance.
How can your vacation be impacted by hearing loss
So how can hearing loss negatively effect your next vacation? There are actually a few ways as it turns out. And while some of them might seem a little insignificant at first, they have a tendency to add up! Here are some common examples:
- Getting past language barriers can be overwhelming: It’s hard enough to contend with a language barrier. But neglected hearing loss can make it even more difficult to understand voices (particularly in a noisy setting).
- You can miss important moments with friends and family: Everybody loved the great joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you didn’t hear the punchline. When you have neglected hearing loss, you can miss important (and enriching) conversations.
- Essential notices come in but you frequently miss them: Maybe you miss your flight because you didn’t hear the boarding call. This can cast your entire vacation timing out of whack.
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: Your experience can be rather lackluster when everything you hear is muted. After all, you could fail to hear the distinctive bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot unique and memorable.
A number of these negative situations can be averted by simply wearing your hearing aids. So, taking care of your hearing requirements is the ideal way to keep your vacation on track.
How to prepare for your vacation when you’re dealing with hearing loss
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on a trip if you have hearing loss. That’s not at all true! But with a little extra planning and preparation, your vacation can still be enjoyable and relatively hassle-free. Whether you have hearing loss or not, this is clearly practical travel advice.
Here are some things you can do to make sure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- 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 have to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can introduce more challenges).
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is the worst! Don’t forget to bring some spare batteries. Now, you might be thinking: can I bring spare batteries in my luggage? The exact rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. You may need to store your batteries in your carry-on depending on the kind of battery.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: It’s a good idea to make sure your hearing aids are clean and working properly before you jump on a plane, train, or automobile. 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 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, well, the airways, maybe. Before you go out to the airport, there are a number of things about flying with hearing aids you should definitely be aware of.
- Will my smartphone be helpful? Your smartphone is very helpful, not surprisingly. You can use your smartphone to get directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the correct type of hearing aid, you can utilize your smartphone to adjust your settings to your new environment. 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.
- Is it ok to fly with hearing aids in? You won’t need to turn off your hearing aids when you hear that “all electronics must be off” spiel. That said, you may want to enable flight mode on hearing aids that rely heavily on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity. Some of the in-flight announcements may be hard to hear so make sure you let the flight attendants know about your hearing loss.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? That depends, some airports are really noisy during certain times of the day. But most modern airports will have a telecoil device fitted throughout many areas. This device is specially made to help people with hearing aids hear their environment better.
- Do I need to take my hearing aids out when I go through TSA security? You won’t be required to take your hearing aids out for the security screening. That being said, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. Never allow your hearing aids to go through an X-ray machine or conveyor belt. Conveyor-belt style X-ray machines can create a static charge that can damage your hearing devices.
- If I wear my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Hearing aids are meant to be used every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, showering, or swimming (or in a really noisy setting), you should be wearing your devices.
- Should I know my rights? Before you leave it’s not a bad plan to become familiar with your rights. If you have hearing loss, you’ll have lots of 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 will most likely offer a solution.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Whether you have loss of hearing or not, vacations are hard to predict. Sometimes, the train can go off the rails. That’s why it’s essential that you have a good mindset and treat your vacation like you’re taking on the unexpected.
That way you’ll still feel as if your plans are on track even when the inevitable challenge arises.
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 grow into a catastrophe.
For those who have hearing loss, this preparation often begins by getting your hearing evaluated and making certain you have the equipment and care you need. And that’s accurate whether you’re going to 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? Give us a call today!