Why permit your summer to get wrecked by damaged hearing? If you don’t know about your hearing loss, it’s even worse. Some ear diseases and aging can bring a slow loss of hearing that you might not even detect. You may also hold back on doing summer activities you love because you can’t hear as well. You will still be capable of getting out and having a great time if you look for a few solutions to your hearing loss difficulties.
Summer Barbecues
Loss of hearing can get tricky at summer cookouts. Background noise is one big problem. There are a lot of conversations happening around you. Kids are running around shouting and playing. There is the sound of the food cooking on the grill and, of course, the wonderful sounds of the natural world.
All that noise interferes with any residual hearing you may have left. Background noises will overtake someone who has hearing decline.
Here are a few ideas to help you compensate:
Some of the overwhelming background noise can be lessened by finding a quiet place to sit for a while. You might need to look at peoples lips so turn your back to the sun.
- You can turn down the volume of background music. You could make the decision not to have music if you are hosting the barbecue. When you are at other peoples barbecues make sure you tell the host that you have hearing difficulties.
- Walk away from time to time. It takes a lot of energy struggling to hear. Every hour or so try to go indoors or a little ways away from all the noise.
- Inform others that you can’t hear. It’s aggravating for you and those near you if you try to fake it. If you can’t hear what someone said, let them know. Cupping your ear and other visual hints can indicate that you can’t hear to others. Normally, people will come closer or speak louder to help.
Don’t try to hear everything. Participating in every discussion is not an option. Set reasonable limits for yourself and try to engage in smaller groups instead.
Go Outdoors
If you just remain inside you won’t recognize what you’re missing out on. Don’t be frightened to go outside and focus on the sounds of nature. You won’t hear everything, but with a little focus, you may be amazed by the things you will hear.
Make a game out of it and listen for:
- Birds singing
- Insects buzzing
- Evening crickets
- The leaves blowing
- Falling rain
- People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
- Dogs barking
- Waves splashing
Manage expectations when you go outside, to the beach, or for a walk in the park by trying to listen to one thing at a time.
Enjoy a Vacation or Maybe Just a Day Trip
That’s truly what summer is meant for, isn’t it? What kind of vacation would you enjoy? What constraints come along with your hearing loss that will affect it? For example, a theme park might be a little too much stimulation, but sailing or fishing work nicely. Going out into nature should also work. A museum or taking a stroll on the boardwalk by the beach are excellent choices.
You have an opportunity to travel this summer so don’t let your hearing loss take that away from you. If you’re going to fly, notify the airline that you have hearing loss when you book your ticket. Inform the hotel or resort, also, so they can offer you a room with accommodations for the hearing impaired including smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs that have closed captioning.
Improve Yourself
Learn to paint or take an exercise class to improve yourself this summer. Arrive early, so you can get a spot up front. If you do miss anything, it would be prudent to have a friend or two with you to let you know what you might have missed.
This Summer You Should Take Safety Precautions
There are a couple of summertime activities which require you to take precautions to protect yourself, your ears, and any costly hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:
- While you are at the pool or beach, play it safe. Make sure to take care of your hearing aids from water damage and put in some earplugs when you go into the water to prevent ear infections.
- Remember not to go on evening walks by yourself. There are potential risks such as a car or truck driving toward you or someone lurking near you which you might not hear.
- Use ear protection at fireworks and at concerts.
Making The Most of it This Summer
Three simple things will help you avoid most of these things.
- Have your ears examined by a hearing care specialist. It may be possible your hearing loss is treatable.
- Get a professional hearing examination, to determine if you do actually have hearing loss.
- Wear high-quality hearing aids. They can filter out any background noises so that you will hear what’s relevant.
Having fun is what summer is all about. Don’t let the loss of hearing rob you of that.