Tips for Traveling with a Hearing Loss
Is it difficult for you to travel with your hearing loss?
The holidays are just around the corner, and that usually means traveling to see family and friends. When you travel by airplane, the sound of the engines can bother your sensitive ears. As we always tell people, it is vital to protect your hearing when you know you will be exposed to loud noises. Your ears can only handle so much noise before it can affect your hearing. Once sounds reach 85 decibels, then hearing damage can start and can even be permanent. During take-off and landing, an airplane’s noise inside the cabin can be as high as 105 decibels. For long flights, the entire time the plane is flying between take-off and landing the sound continuously stays at 85 decibels.
So, what can you do to protect your ears during long flights?
We gathered a few tips to help you during flying.
Use earplugs – This is the perfect and compact solution to protect your ears when you fly. And if you forget to pack them for your flight, there is usually a store in the airport that sells them. They even sell earplugs that are explicitly made for flying.
Try noise-canceling headphones – While they aren’t compact like earplugs, noise-canceling headphones are an excellent option. They will protect your hearing, and you can listen to music if you have a pair that has Bluetooth capabilities. Just make sure that the music is set at a low volume.
Sit close to the front of the plane – When you sit in the front of the aircraft, there is less noise from the engines. You will be dealing with other noise from the flight crew preparing drink orders and chatting, but it won’t be as bothersome as the sound of the engines. While it is difficult (and more expensive) to get a seat at the front of the airplane, it will help if the sound of the engines bothers you.
Discover Travel Options Beyond Flying
If the noise from flying in an airplane bothers you to the point of pain, then it would be beneficial to try traveling by train instead. Traveling by train can be very relaxing if you have the time, and you will get to see beautiful sights along the way—something that you won’t get if you fly. So, before you book that flight, look into train travel, and see if it will work for your schedule. You might be surprised and find that you enjoy it more than flying!
Are you a frequent flyer and concerned about noise on an airplane?
At Sound Hearing Care, we are available to help you manage your hearing loss and help you whenever you need us. Contact us to discuss your concerns, and we will work with you to figure out the best solutions that will make you comfortable during your travel. Visit us at one of our four convenient locations at Simpsonville, Greer, Travelers Rest, and Greenville. Contact us at 864-881-1663.
This holiday season, make sure to protect your ears during airplane travel.
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