Why let your summer get spoiled by flawed hearing? If you don’t know about your hearing loss, it’s probably even worse. The prolonged decay of your hearing that comes with getting older and some ear diseases will mean that you won’t always recognize that there are some things which you can’t hear any longer. When you don’t hear as well it’s very likely that you won’t go to many exciting summer activities. You will still be able to get out and have a blast if you find a few practical solutions to your hearing loss obstacles.
Summer Barbecues
Barbecuing during the summer can get challenging if you have loss of hearing. For one thing, there is a large amount of background noise. People are chatting everywhere. Kids might be having fun in the yard or swimming pool. You have the sounds of nature such as singing birds, barking dogs, and the crackling sound of food cooking on the grill.
If you do have some measure of hearing loss, all of these noises and sounds can be very frustrating. When somebody has hearing decline, background noises have a tendency to take over.
Here are some tips to help you compensate:
Some of the overwhelming background noise can be reduced by finding a quiet place to sit for a while. You might need to see peoples lips so turn your back to the sun.
- Turn off any background music or turn it down, at least. If you are hosting the barbecue, you can just choose not to play music. When you are at other peoples barbecues make sure you tell the host that you have hearing difficulties.
- Get away from time to time. It takes a lot of energy struggling to hear. Every hour or so try to go inside or away from all the noise.
- Inform others that you can’t hear. People will get frustrated if you try to fake it. If you don’t hear what someone said, let them know. You should also utilize visual clues that you are struggling such as cupping your ear. Normally, people will come closer to you or speak louder to help out.
Don’t try to hear everything. Taking part in every discussion is not a possibility. Set reasonable limits for yourself and try to engage in small groups instead.
Head Outdoors
What might you be missing by staying inside the house? Don’t be afraid to go outside and focus on the sounds of nature. No, you won’t be capable of hearing everything but with a little focus, you might hear more than you might think.
Make a game out of it and listen for:
- Birds chirping
- Buzzing insects
- Evening crickets
- Blowing leaves
- Falling rain
- People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
- Barking dogs
- Splashing waves
If you simply attempt to hear one thing at a time, you can manage your expectations every time you go outside, head for the beach or walk in the park.
Enjoy a Vacation or Maybe Just a Day Trip
That’s truly what summer is meant for, isn’t it? What type of vacation do you enjoy? What constraints come along with your hearing loss that will affect it? Sailing or fishing would be ideal but an amusement park might be a bit too much stimulation. Spend a day at a nature preserve or alternatively go to the zoo. Walk on the boardwalk by the beach or head to a museum.
Don’t let your loss of hearing take away your chance to travel this summer. Tell the airline about your condition when you get your ticket if you are flying. Alert the hotel or resort, too, so they can give you a room with accommodations for the hearing impaired such as smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs that have closed captioning.
Work on Yourself
Look for ways to better yourself this summer like taking an exercise class or learning to paint. Arrive early, so you can get a place up front. If you do miss anything, it would be smart to bring a couple of friends with you to let you know what you might have missed.
Take Safety Measures This Summer
There are a couple of summertime traditions that require you to take safety measures to protect yourself, your ears, and any costly hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:
- Taking care while by the pool or swimming. Use earplugs to avoid ear infections and don’t let your hearing aids get wet.
- Bring someone with you when you go on those nice evening walks. There are hazards like a car or truck driving toward you or someone lurking close to you which you probably won’t hear.
- Use ear protection at fireworks and at concerts.
Try to Make The Most of it This Summer
Many of these summer challenges become less significant when you do three easy things.
- Get your ears examined by a hearing specialist. It may be possible that your hearing loss is treatable.
- Get a professional hearing test, to determine if you do have hearing loss.
- Get good-quality hearing aids. They can filter out background noises so that you hear what is relevant.
Summertime is all about having fun. Don’t permit hearing loss take it away from you.