Summer Travel and Your Hearing Health: What You Need to Know

As you head off on your summer travels, it’s important to think about your hearing health. From exciting music festivals to peaceful beach trips, the things you do during the summer can expose your ears to different sounds that might affect your hearing. To take care of your ears, you can use ear protection when it’s noisy and be careful about how loud things are around you. By thinking about your hearing while you enjoy your summer adventures, you can make sure you’re taking good care of your ears and enjoying all the sounds that come with the season.

How Can Summer Travel Impact Hearing Health?

When it comes to summer travel, your biggest concerns are likely combating sunburn or making sure you aren’t late for your flight. However, it’s also important that you’re aware of how travel can impact your hearing health so that you can take measures to prevent any damage.

There are many ways in which summer travel could impact your hearing health. For example, if you travel by plane, pressure changes (especially during landing and take-off) could lead to temporary hearing difficulties or discomfort. In some cases, it could lead to the development of a condition known as ‘airplane ear.’ Exposure to loud noises when travelling, such as in crowded environments, could also impact your hearing health, leading to the onset of tinnitus and other related conditions.

However, one of the biggest causes of hearing health complaints when travelling is caused by water entering the ear canal. For example, this could occur when swimming in the pool or sea or visiting a water park. While this may not seem like a major issue, when water enters the ear canal, it can lead to infections and inflammation.

Of course, these risk factors impact every traveler – those who already experienced hearing loss are more vulnerable, which means you must take every effort to care for your hearing health when vacationing.

Caring for Your Hearing Health While Traveling

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to protect your hearing health when travelling, especially as a hearing aid user.

• Wear earplugs when in the water.
• Whether you’re going for a quick splash or swimming a few laps in the pool, wearing earplugs when in the water is the easiest way to prevent water from entering the ear canal.
• Pack all of your hearing aid equipment
• A hearing aid case
• Spare batteries or hearing aid charger
• Plug/socket adapters
• A hearing aid cleaning kit
• Protect your hearing aids from heat

You should also research the different ways in which you can protect your hearing aids from heat and humidity when travelling. For example, you should always ensure you take them out when swimming while also removing moisture from the devices where possible.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is another excellent way to protect your hearing health when travelling. This is because dehydration can lead to various complications, such as tinnitus or ringing sounds in the ear. You should ensure you drink plenty of water, especially if you’re in a hotter climate than you are used to.

Ask for Support When Needed

Whether you’re lodging at a hotel or concerned about missing important announcements in a bustling airport, it’s crucial to keep in mind that there are numerous assistance options available to aid you. Informing airline and hotel personnel about your hearing loss can enable them to put strategies in motion to assist you effectively. For instance, they might offer specialized assistance to guide you directly to your boarding gate at the right time. This thoughtful approach not only reduces stress but also enhances your travel experience, allowing you to truly relish your journey.

Schedule an Appointment with a Professional

Speaking to your local hearing specialist before travelling is another great way to put your best foot forward. After all, they’ll be able to provide you with invaluable advice regarding travel safety tips and caring for your hearing instrument during this time.

If you’d like to find out more or would like to get your hearing aids checked or serviced ahead of your upcoming vacation, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. At the Niagara Hearing and Speech Clinic, we have years of experience supporting those with hearing loss and their families. You can reach us online or on (855) 797-8002.