Aren’t there a couple of kinds of vacation? One type is full of activities the whole time. 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. These are the trips where you may not do, well, much of anything. Maybe you spend a lot of time on the beach with some drinks. Or maybe you spend your whole vacation at some sort of resort, getting pampered the whole time. These types of vacations will leave you quite rested and recharged.
Everybody has their own concept of the perfect vacation. But neglected hearing loss can put a damper on whichever type of vacation you take.
Your vacation can be ruined by hearing loss
There are some distinct ways that hearing loss can make a vacation more difficult, particularly if you don’t know you have hearing loss. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many people have no idea they have it. They just keep cranking the volume on their television louder and louder.
The nice thing is that there are a few proven ways to minimize the impact hearing loss could have on your vacation. Scheduling a hearing test is obviously the first step. 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 hearing loss negatively impact your next vacation? Well, there are a number of ways. And while some of them might seem a bit insignificant at first, they have a tendency to add up! Here are some common instances:
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience may be muted as well. After all, your favorite vacation spot is alive with unique sounds, like bustling street sounds or singing birds.
- You miss important notices: Maybe you’re waiting for your train or aircraft to board, but you don’t ever hear the announcement. And as a consequence, your entire vacation schedule is cast into absolute disarray.
- Special moments with friends and family can be missed: Everyone loved the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you didn’t hear the punchline. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can miss important (and enriching) conversations.
- Language barriers become even more tricky: It’s hard enough to overcome a language barrier. But deciphering voices with hearing loss, especially when it’s really noisy, makes it much more difficult.
Some of these negative situations can be avoided by simply using your hearing aids. So, taking care of your hearing requirements is the ideal way to keep your vacation on track.
If you have hearing loss, how can you get ready for your vacation?
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on vacation if you have hearing loss. That’s nowhere near true! But it does mean that, when you’re dealing with hearing loss, a little bit of extra planning and preparation, can help ensure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. Whether you have hearing loss or not, this is definitely good travel advice.
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:
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids quit on the first day is the worst! Remember to bring some spare batteries. So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? The precise rules and guidelines will depend on the airline. Some types of batteries need to be stored in your carry-on.
- Do a little pre-planning: When you have to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can introduce some difficulties, so don’t be too spontaneous and prepare as much as possible.
- Keep your hearing aids clean: It’s a smart plan to make certain your hearing aids are clean and working correctly before you jump on a plane, train, or automobile. This can help prevent problems from developing while you’re on your vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their regular maintenance is also a smart plan.
Hearing aid travel tips
Once all the planning and preparation is done, it’s time to hit the road! Or, well, the airways, possibly. Before you go out to the airport, there are a number of things about flying with hearing aids you should definitely know about.
- Will my smartphone be useful? Your smartphone is very helpful, not surprisingly. After you land, you can utilize this device to adjust the settings on your hearing aid (if you have the correct kind of hearing aid), find directions to your destination, and even translate foreign languages. You may be able to take some stress off your ears if you can use your phone like this.
- Do I need to take out my hearing aids when I go through TSA security? 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 plan. If there is any type of conveyor belt or X-ray machines, be certain that your hearing aids don’t go through that belt. Your hearing aids can be damaged by the static charge that these conveyor type X-ray devices generate.
- 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 be required to turn your hearing aids off. 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 could be difficult to hear so be certain that you tell the flight attendant about your hearing loss.
- If I wear my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? Hearing aids are meant to be worn every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, taking a shower, or swimming (or in a really loud environment), you should be wearing your devices.
- Should I know my rights? Before you travel it’s never a bad plan to get familiar with your rights. Under the American Disabilities Act, individuals with hearing loss have many special rights. But basically, it amounts to this: information has to be accessible to you. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you suspect you’re missing some information and they should be able to help.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? 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 installed in many areas of most modern airports. This is a basic wire device (although 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.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have hearing loss 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 manage your vacation like you’re taking on the unanticipated.
That way, when something unforeseen takes place (and it will), it’ll seem like it’s all part of the plan!
However, the other side to that is that preparation can go a long way. When something goes amiss, with the correct preparations, you can keep it from going out of control.
For those with hearing loss, this preparation frequently begins by having your hearing evaluated and making certain you have the equipment and care you need. And whether you’re taking vacation number one (sightseeing in the city), or vacation number two (relaxing on a tropical beach somewhere), this advice will still hold.
Still have some questions or concerns? Give us a call today!