Is the loss of hearing interfering with your summertime fun? Chances are it’s even worse if you’re not aware of it. The prolonged decay of hearing which goes along with getting older and certain ear diseases can mean that you won’t always recognize that there are things which you don’t hear any longer. You may also stay away from doing fun summertime events that you love just because you can’t hear as well. Look for remedies to the challenges that come along with hearing loss, so you can go out there and enjoy the good times with everyone else.
Summer Barbecues
Hearing loss will be tricky at summer barbecues. For one thing, there is a lot of background noise. People are talking everywhere. On the lawn and in the pool children are shouting and playing. There is the crackling sound of the food cooking on the grill and, of course, the wondrous sounds of nature.
All that noise competes with any remaining hearing you have left. When somebody has hearing loss, background sounds have a tendency to take over.
There are things you can do to compensate including:
Find a quiet spot to sit to eliminate some of that overpowering background noise. Turning away from the sun will allow you to look at people when they are talking and use their lips to figure out words you miss.
- You can turn down the volume of background music. If you are hosting the barbecue, you can simply choose not to have any music. If you are visiting someone else’s barbecue, explain the problem to the host.
- Get away from time to time. It can be exhausting when you are struggling to hear. Every hour or so try to go indoors or away from all the noise.
- Inform others that you can’t hear. It’s aggravating for you and those around you when you try to fake it. If you don’t hear what someone said, tell them. Cupping your ear and other visual clues can suggest that you can’t hear to others. Usually, people will move 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 small groups instead.
Go Outdoors
If you just remain indoors you don’t recognize what you’re missing. Don’t be afraid to go outside and focus on the sounds of the natural world. You won’t hear everything, but with a little focus, you might be amazed by the things you will hear.
Make a game out of it and listen for:
- Singing birds
- Insects buzzing
- Crickets in the evening
- Blowing leaves
- The rain falling
- People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
- Barking dogs
- Splashing waves
Temper expectations when going outside, to the beach, or for a walk in the park by trying to hear one thing at a time.
Enjoy Day Trips or Even a Much Needed Vacation
That’s truly what summer is all about, isn’t it? What type of vacation do you enjoy? What constraints come with your hearing loss that will affect it? For example, a theme park may be a bit too much stimulation, but sailing or fishing work perfectly. Going out into nature would also work. Take a walk on the boardwalk by the beach or go to a museum.
Don’t let your loss of hearing rob you of your opportunity to travel this summer. If you are flying, tell the airline that you have hearing loss when you buy your ticket. Inform the hotel or resort, too, so they can get you a room with accommodations for the hearing impaired including smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs with closed captioning.
Improve Yourself
Look for methods to improve yourself this summer such as going to a fitness class or learning how to paint. Arrive early, so you can find a spot up front. If you miss anything, it would be good to have a couple of friends with you to let you know what you might have missed.
This Summer You Should Take Safety Measures
There are a number of summertime activities that require you to take precautions to protect yourself, your ears, and any expensive hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:
- Playing it safe when by the pool or beach. Wear earplugs to prevent ear infections and don’t let your hearing aids get wet.
- If you decide to walk in the evening to enjoy the night air, bring someone with you. The loss of hearing means you won’t always comprehend sounds including automobiles coming towards you or maybe even a stranger coming up behind you.
- If you are attending fireworks or maybe a live performance, wear ear protection.
Making The Most of it This Summer
Many of these summer obstacles become less substantial when you do three simple things.
- Have your ears checked by a hearing care specialist. It may be possible that your hearing loss is treatable.
- Get a professional hearing test, so you know if you do actually have hearing loss.
- Wear high-quality hearing aids. They will get rid of any background noises so you hear what is relevant.
Summertime is all about having fun. Don’t allow hearing loss rob you of that.