Summer Travel and Your Hearing Health: What You Need to Know

Summertime travel offers boundless opportunity and exploration, yet one aspect must not get lost: your hearing health. From family trips to international journeys, remembering healthy hearing habits is integral. Here is all you need to know in order to protect your hearing during travel this summer.

Bring Noise-Canceling Earplugs or Headphones

Airlines, trains and buses can all be noisy environments, so it is crucial that you have effective means of protecting your ears from these sounds. Noise-canceling headphones are great at blocking out background noise while still letting you enjoy music or audio books you may have brought along with you. If headphones are unavailable then high-quality foam earplugs or custom solutions from a hearing professional can provide alternative protection from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Avoid Excessively Loud Environments

As tempting as it can be to seek out new nightlife hotspots when on vacation, travelers should take precautions when visiting bars, clubs and concerts that could potentially expose themselves to excessively loud decibel levels. Bars, clubs and concerts that involve live music should generally be avoided to minimize your risk for NIHL – unless proper hearing protection is worn. Try to stick to venues with lower decibel levels or make sure to take periodic breaks away from the sounds.

Take Frequent Hearing Health Breaks

No matter how exciting the journey, it’s essential to take regular hearing health breaks when traveling. Doing this ensures your ears get time to recover before returning back into noisy environments. Take some time when traveling to visit quiet parks or nature trails so your hearing stays in top condition without risk of damage from loud noises.

Wear Ear Protection When Engaging in High-Risk Activities

Shooting guns and riding motorcycles are extremely loud activities that could damage your hearing health, so before engaging in either, be sure to use appropriate hearing protection such as headphones or earplugs to minimize damage. By taking this extra step, it can go a long way towards maintaining hearing health for years to come.

Get a Hearing Test Regularly

As part of your ongoing prevention plan, it’s also essential that you receive routine hearing tests. Doing this can detect potential issues before they worsen and give you the opportunity to take necessary corrective actions as required. Even if your hearing wasn’t affected during travel by loud noises, having regular checkups with a hearing health professional remains highly recommended. Hearing loss can occur gradually without you even realizing it – taking a proactive stance with regards to hearing health is vitally important.

Make an Attempt to Be Mindful of Your Surroundings

As part of your travel preparations, be aware of your surroundings. Limit how long you spend in loud environments like nightclubs or airports where decibel levels may exceed 65. Give your ears a rest by finding quieter spots if possible.

Water and Nutrition

Make sure to stay hydrated on your trip as dehydration can make it more difficult for the ears to process sound. Eating a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals such as fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants may also help protect against loud noise damage.

Excess Water Exposure

Avoid overexposure to excess amounts of water as this could also damage your hearing. When swimming, wear earplugs if possible and dry off your ears completely after leaving the pool. Also, avoid using cotton swabs or other objects to clean the ear canal as this can lead to infection or eardrum damage.

Actions to Take When Your Ears Feel Stressed

If your ears seem over-stressed when traveling, take some time out for rest and relaxation. Play soothing music or take a short nap in an isolated location for at least 15 minutes in order to give your ears time to reset and recharge before heading back out into the world again. Make an appointment with a hearing health professional as soon as possible if you believe your hearing may be worsening.

Follow these steps to make sure that your travels are both enjoyable and safe for your ears! With just a bit of foresight and precautionary measures in place, you can protect yourself against noise-induced hearing loss so you can continue enjoying all that the world offers!

If you’re worried about how noise might impact your hearing or want to learn about safeguarding it during travel, our team at Life Hearing & Tinnitus Health Centers is here for you. We offer a range of services, from hearing tests to hearing aids, along with counseling for individuals dealing with tinnitus. Our skilled hearing health experts provide expert guidance and support. Reach out to us at (239) 963-2429 to schedule an appointment and take a step towards better hearing today!