Are you going to sit inside and miss out on summer just because you can’t hear very well? Most likely it’s even worse if you’re not aware of it. Some ear conditions and getting older carry a slow decline of hearing that you may not even detect. When you don’t hear as well it’s likely that you won’t even attend many awesome 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.
Summertime Cookouts
Cooking out during the summertime might be challenging if you have hearing loss. One of the hardest issues is background noise. All around you, people are chatting. Kids are running about screaming and enjoying themselves. You get the sounds of nature such as singing birds, barking dogs, and the sound of cooking on the grill.
If you do have some amount of loss of hearing, all of these various noises and sounds can be extremely challenging. When somebody has hearing decline, background sounds have a tendency to take over.
Try to do these things to compensate:
Sitting in a quiet place for short periods of time can help get rid of some of that overwhelming background noise. Turning away from the sun will allow you to look at people when they talk and read their lips to figure out words you miss.
- Shut off the background music or turn it down, at least. Choosing not to have music is an option if you’re the host. At other peoples cookouts make sure you tell the host about your hearing difficulties.
- Get away from time to time. Struggling to hear takes a lot of energy. Step indoors and away from people for a short time every hour and go somewhere quiet to recharge.
- Inform others that you can’t hear. Don’t try to fake it because that can irritate others. If you don’t hear what someone said, let them know. Visual clues such as cupping your ears will let people know you’re having a problem hearing. They will quickly get closer or speak up to help out.
Don’t try to hear everything. The fact that you can’t take part in every discussion is something you need to understand. Instead, attempt to participate in small groups and set sensible limits for yourself.
Go Outdoors
Do you really understand what you are missing outside? Don’t be scared to walk outside the house and concentrate on the sounds of the natural world. You won’t hear everything, but with a small amount of focus, you may be surprised by the sounds you will hear.
Make a game out of it and listen for:
- Birds singing
- Insects buzzing
- Crickets in the evening
- The leaves blowing
- Rain on your roof
- People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
- Barking dogs
- Splashing waves
If you simply attempt to listen to one thing at a time, you can manage your expectations every time you go outdoors, head to the beach or walk in the park.
Enjoy Day Trips or Even a Much Needed Vacation
That’s really what summer is all about, isn’t it? Determine what sort of vacation you would enjoy and if there are limitations that come along with your hearing loss. Sailing or fishing would be ideal but an amusement park could be a little too much. Going out into nature would also work. Stroll on the boardwalk by the beach or head to a museum.
You have a chance to travel this summer so don’t let your hearing loss take that away from you. Tell the airline about your condition when you get your ticket if you are flying. Inform the hotel or resort, too, so they can get you a room that has accommodations for the hearing impaired such as smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs that have closed captioning.
Work on Yourself
Learn to paint or maybe take an exercise class to improve yourself this summer. If you would like to find a spot up front, get there early. If you miss anything, it would be smart to bring a couple of friends with you to fill in the blanks.
Take Safety Measures This Summer
There are a couple of summer activities which require you to take precautions to protect yourself, your ears, and any costly hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:
- Taking care while by the pool or beach. Put in earplugs to prevent ear infections and keep your hearing aids dry.
- Don’t take evening walks alone. Loss of hearing means you don’t always recognize sounds like cars coming towards you or maybe even someone coming up behind you.
- If you are going to fireworks or maybe a concert, wear ear protection.
Try to Make The Most of it This Summer
These summertime difficulties can be largely avoided by doing three simple things.
- Get your ears checked by a hearing specialist. It may be possible that your hearing loss is treatable.
- Get a professional hearing examination, to determine if you do have hearing loss.
- Get high-quality hearing aids. They can get rid of any background noises so you will hear what’s relevant.
Having fun is what summer is all about. Don’t let hearing loss take it away from you.