Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? There’s the kind where you jam every single activity you can into every single second. This kind will leave you more tired than when you left but all of the adventures will be remembered for many years to come.
Then there are the relaxing kinds of vacations. You might not even do much of anything on this type of vacation. Maybe you spend a lot of time on the beach with some drinks. Or maybe you’re getting pampered at some resort for your entire vacation. These are the peaceful and relaxing kinds of vacations.
Everybody has their own idea of the perfect vacation. But neglected hearing loss can jeopardize whichever type of vacation you choose.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, particularly if you’re not aware of it. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many individuals have no idea they have it. On all their devices, the volume just continues going up and up.
The nice thing is that there are a few proven ways to lessen the effect hearing loss might have on your vacation. The first step, of course, will be to make an appointment for a hearing screening if you haven’t already. The impact that hearing loss has on your good times will be greatly reduced the more ready you are in advance.
How can hearing loss effect your vacation
So how can your next vacation be adversely effected by hearing loss? There are actually a small number of ways as it turns out. And while some of them might seem a little insignificant at first, they tend to add up! Here are some common examples:
- You can miss out on the vibrancy of a new place: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience could be muted also. After all, your favorite vacation place is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- You can miss important moments with family and friends: Maybe your friend just told a hilarious joke that everyone enjoyed, except you couldn’t hear the punchline. Significant and enriching conversations can be missed when you have untreated hearing loss.
- Essential notices come in but you often miss them: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you don’t ever hear the announcement. And as a result, your entire vacation schedule is thrown into absolute disarray.
- Language barriers become even more difficult: Managing a language barrier is already hard enough. But untreated hearing loss can make it even harder to decipher voices (particularly in a noisy situation).
Of course, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative impacts can be lessened and decreased. Which means the best way to keep your vacation on track and free of stress is to manage your hearing needs before you go.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
All of this isn’t to say that hearing loss makes a vacation unachievable. That’s not at all true! But with a bit of additional planning and preparation, your vacation can still be fun and relatively stress-free. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice no matter how good your hearing is.
Here are some things you can do to ensure hearing loss doesn’t negatively effect your next vacation:
- Pack extra batteries: There’s nothing worse than your hearing aid dying the first day because your batteries died. Always make sure you bring spares! Now, you may be thinking: can I have spare batteries in my luggage? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. Some kinds of batteries must be kept in your carry-on.
- Do a little pre-planning: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some challenges, so don’t be overly spontaneous and plan as much as possible.
- 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 difficulties on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their scheduled maintenance is also a good 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, possibly. Many individuals have questions about going on a plane with hearing aids, and there are definitely some good things to understand before you head to the airport.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I be required to remove my hearing aids? You can keep your hearing aids in when you go through the security screening process. That being said, telling the TSA agents you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good idea. If there is any kind of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, be certain that your hearing aids do not go through that belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor style X-ray devices create.
- Will I be able to hear well in an airport? How well you can hear in the airport will depend on what 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 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 noisy and chaotic.
- How useful is my smartphone? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is really useful! Once you land, you can use this device to adjust the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the right kind of hearing aid), get directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. You might be able to take some stress off your ears if you can use your phone like this.
- Is it ok to take a flight with hearing aids in? When they tell you it’s time to turn off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. But it’s a good idea to activate flight mode if your hearing aid heavily relies on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. Some of the in-flight announcements may be difficult to hear so be certain that you tell the flight attendant about your hearing loss.
- Do I have some rights I need to know about? It’s a good idea! Generally, it’s good to become familiar with your rights before you travel. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, you’ll have many rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But basically, it comes down to this: information has to be available to you. Talk to an airport official about a solution if you suspect you’re missing some information and they will most likely be able to help.
- If I use my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Hearing aids are designed to be used every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t sleeping, showering, or going for a swim (or in a super loud environment), you should be wearing your devices.
Life is an adventure, and that includes vacations
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are hard to predict. At times, the train can go off the rails. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a positive attitude.
That way, when something unforeseen occurs (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
However, the flip side to that is that preparation can go a long way. With the right preparation, you can make sure you have options when something goes wrong, so an inconvenience doesn’t grow into a disaster.
For individuals with hearing loss, this preparation often starts by getting your hearing assessed and making sure you have the equipment and care you need. 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? Schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test!