There are a couple of types of vacations, right? There’s the kind where you cram every single recreation you can into every single second. This kind will leave you more exhausted 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 may not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps you spend the entire time on the beach with some drinks. Or maybe you spend your whole vacation at some kind of resort, getting pampered the whole time. These are the peaceful and relaxing kinds of vacations.
Everyone has their own idea 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
Your vacation can become a difficulty if you have hearing loss, especially 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 higher and higher.
The good news is that there are some proven ways to minimize the effect hearing loss might have on your vacation. Making an appointment for a hearing test is definitely the first step. The effect that hearing loss has on your good times will be greatly diminished the more ready you are ahead of time.
How can hearing loss effect your vacation
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 bit trivial at first, they have a tendency to add up! Here are some common examples:
- 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 fail to hear the unique bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot unique and memorable.
- You can miss important moments with family and friends: Everybody enjoyed the funny joke that your friend just told, but unfortunately, you missed the punchline. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can miss significant (and enriching) conversations.
- You miss crucial notices: Perhaps you’re waiting for your train or plane to board, but you never hear the announcement. This can throw your entire vacation timing out of whack.
- Language barriers are even more tricky: It’s difficult enough to overcome a language barrier. But understanding voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s really loud, makes it much harder.
A number 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 moving in the right direction.
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. Not by any Means! But it does mean that, when you have hearing loss, a little bit of added planning and preparation, can help make sure your vacation goes as easily as possible. Whether or not you have hearing loss, this is obviously good travel advice.
Here are several things you can do to ensure hearing loss doesn’t negatively impact your next vacation:
- Clean your hearing aids: Before you leave on your travels, make sure you clean your hearing aids. This can help avoid issues from happening while you’re on your vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their scheduled maintenance is also a smart idea.
- Bring extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die on the first day is the worst! Always make certain you bring spares! So are you allowed to take spare batteries on a plane? Well, possibly, consult your airline. Some types of batteries need to be kept in your carry-on.
- Pre-planning is a good plan: When you need to figure things out as you go, that’s when hearing loss can present some challenges, so don’t be too spontaneous and plan as much as you can.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
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 going on a plane with hearing aids you should definitely know about.
- When I’m in the airport, how well will I be able to hear? That depends, some airports are very noisy during certain times of the day. But a telecoil device will usually be installed in many areas of most modern airports. This device is specifically made to help people with hearing aids hear their environment better.
- Should I know my rights? It’s a good idea! In general, it’s good to become familiar with your rights before you travel. If you have hearing loss, you’ll have lots of rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But basically, it boils down to this: information must be accessible to you. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you suspect you’re missing some information and they will most likely be able to help.
- How useful is my smartphone? Your smartphone is extremely useful, not surprisingly. You can utilize your smartphone to get directions to your destination, translate foreign languages, and if you have the right kind 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 may take some strain off your ears.
- 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. It’s generally a good idea to tell the TSA agents that you’re wearing them. 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 type X-ray devices generate.
- Is it ok to take a flight with hearing aids in? When they announce that it’s time to turn off your electronic devices, you won’t need to turn your hearing aids off. But it’s a good plan to enable flight mode if your hearing aid relies heavily on Bluetooth connectivity or wifi. Some of the in-flight announcements may be hard to hear so make sure you tell the flight attendant about your hearing loss.
- If I use my hearing aids more than usual, is that ok? Hearing aids are designed to be used every day, all day. So you should be using your hearing aids anytime you’re not in a really noisy place, swimming, or showering.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Whether you have hearing loss or not, vacations are unpredictable. Not everything is going to go the way you planned it all the time. So be prepared for the unforeseen and try to have a positive mindset.
That way, when something unexpected takes place (and it will), it’ll feel like it’s all part of the plan!
But you will be surprised less if you make good preparations. When something goes amiss, with the right preparations, you can keep it from going out of control.
Getting a hearing test and making sure you have the correct equipment is usually the beginning of that preparation for people who have hearing loss. And that’s accurate whether you’re visiting 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? Give us a call today!
