Aren’t there a couple of types of vacation? One kind is full of activities the whole time. This type will leave you more exhausted than when you left but all of the adventures will be recalled for years to come.
The other kind is all about relaxing. You may not even do much of anything on this kind of vacation. Perhaps 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. Whichever way you prefer, however, untreated hearing loss can put your vacation in jeopardy.
Your vacation can be spoiled by hearing loss
Your vacation can become a challenge if you have hearing loss, particularly if you don’t know you have it. Look, hearing loss can creep up on you like nobody’s business, many people have no idea they have it. They just keep turning the volume on their tv louder and louder.
But the effect that hearing loss can have on a vacation can be minimized with some proven methods, and that’s the good news. Scheduling a hearing exam is obviously the first step. The more ready you are before you go, the easier it will be to reduce any power hearing loss could have over your fun, rest, and relaxation.
How can hearing loss impact your vacation
So how can hearing loss negatively effect your next vacation? Well, there are a couple of ways. And while some of them may seem a bit trivial at first, they have a tendency to add up! Some common illustrations include the following:
- The radiant life of a new place can be missed: When what you’re hearing is muted, your experience may be muted also. After all, you could miss out on the unique bird calls or humming traffic noises that make your vacation spot unique and memorable.
- Language barriers become even more tricky: Coping with a language barrier is already difficult enough. But deciphering voices with hearing loss, particularly when it’s very loud, makes it much more difficult.
- Meaningful moments with friends and family can be missed: Everybody enjoyed the great 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 miss important notices: Perhaps you miss your flight because you failed to hear the boarding call. This can throw your entire vacation timing out of whack.
Of course, if you’re wearing your hearing aids, some of these negative effects can be mitigated and minimized. So, taking care of your hearing requirements is the ideal way to keep your vacation on track.
How to get ready for your vacation when you have hearing loss
That doesn’t mean that you can’t go on a trip if you have hearing loss. Not by any Means! 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 easily as possible. Of course, that’s rather common travel advice regardless of how strong your hearing is.
You can be certain that hearing loss won’t have a negative impact on your vacation, here are a few things you can do:
- Pack extra batteries: Having your hearing aids die 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 which airline you’re using. Some kinds of batteries need to be stored in your carry-on.
- Pre-planning is a smart idea: It’s okay to be spontaneous to a degree, but the more planning you do beforehand, the less you’ll need to figure things out on the fly (and that’s when hearing loss can introduce more obstacles).
- 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 not so likely to have difficulties on vacation. Keeping your hearing aids on their scheduled maintenance is also a smart idea.
Tips for traveling with hearing aids
Once all the planning and preparation is done, it’s time to hit the road! Or maybe it’s the airways. Before you head out to the airport, there are a few things about going on a plane with hearing aids you should certainly be aware of.
- Will I be able to hear well in the airport? 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 is a simple 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.
- If I wear my hearing aids more than normal, is that ok? Hearing aids are designed to be worn every day, all day. So, any time you aren’t in bed, taking a shower, or going for a swim (or in a really noisy environment), you should be wearing your devices.
- Should I know my rights? Before you leave it’s not a bad idea to get familiar with your rights. Under the American Disabilities Act, individuals with hearing loss have lots of special rights. But basically, it comes down to this: information must be available to you. Speak with an airport official about a solution if you feel like you’re missing some information and they should be able to help.
- Will my smartphone be useful? This will not be shocking, but your smartphone is really helpful! You can utilize your smartphone to find 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. You might be able to take some strain off your ears if you’re able to utilize your phone like this.
- When I go through the TSA security checkpoint, will I need to take out my hearing aids? You can wear your hearing aids through the security screening process. Having said that, letting the TSA agents know you’re wearing hearing aids is always a good plan. 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 create.
- Is it ok to take a flight with hearing aids in? You won’t need to turn off your hearing aids when you hear that “all electronics must be off” spiel. But it’s a good idea to enable 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.
Vacations are one of life’s many adventures
Vacations are hard to predict with or without hearing loss. Sometimes, the train can go off the rails. That’s why it’s essential that you have a positive mindset and treat your vacation like you’re embracing the unanticipated.
That way you’ll still feel like your plans are moving in the right direction even when the unavoidable obstacle happens.
But you will be surprised less if you make good preparations. When something goes awry, with the right preparations, you can keep it from going out of control.
For people with hearing loss, this preparation frequently starts by having your hearing tested and making sure you have the hardware and care you need. 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).
Still have some questions or concerns? Call us today!