Should you just sit indoors and miss summer fun because you can’t hear well? If you’re not aware of your hearing loss, it’s even worse. The slow decrease of your hearing which comes with aging and some ear diseases will mean that you don’t always realize that there are some things you don’t hear anymore. When your hearing has declined it’s very likely that you won’t attend many exciting summertime activities. Look for remedies to the difficulties which come along with hearing loss, so you can get out there and enjoy the good times with everyone else.
Summertime Cookouts
Barbecuing during the summertime might get challenging if you have loss of hearing. Background noise is one big problem. Everywhere around you, people are chatting. On the lawn and in the swimming pool youngsters are shouting and having fun. There is the crackling sound of the food cooking on the grill and, of course, the wonderful sounds of the natural world.
Whatever hearing you may have left can’t compete with all that diverse noise. This type of background noise can easily overwhelm someone who has hearing decline.
Here are some ideas to help you compensate:
Look for a quiet place to sit to get rid of some of that overwhelming background noise. You may need to see peoples lips so put your back to the sun.
- Shut off any background music or turn it down, at least. If it’s your barbecue, you can just decide not to play music. Tell the host about your problem if you are attending someone else’s cookout.
- Get away from time to time. You use a lot of energy struggling to hear. Step indoors and away from everyone for a few minutes every hour and sit somewhere quiet to recharge.
- Let others know if you can’t hear. People will get frustrated when you try to fake it. If you can’t hear what someone said, tell them. Cupping your ear and other visual clues can show that you can’t hear to others. Normally, people will step closer to you or speak louder 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 recognize. Set reasonable limits for yourself and try to engage in smaller groups instead.
Go Outdoors
Do you really realize what you are missing outside? Don’t be afraid to step outside and concentrate on the sounds of the natural world. No, you won’t be capable of hearing everything but with a little focus, you may hear more than you think possible.
Make a game out of it and listen for:
- Chirping birds
- Buzzing insects
- Crickets in the evening
- Blowing leaves
- Falling rain
- People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
- Dogs barking
- Splashing waves
Manage expectations when you go 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
Isn’t that what summertime is all about? Determine what kind of vacation you would like and if there are restrictions that come with your hearing loss. Sailing or fishing would be ideal but a theme park might be a bit too much stimulation. Spend the day walking around a nature preserve or possibly go to the zoo. Walk on the boardwalk by the beach or go to a museum.
Don’t let your loss of hearing rob you of your chance to travel this summer. Tell the airline about your condition when you get your ticket if you are flying. Inform the hotel, also, so they can give you a room with accommodations for the hearing impaired such as smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs that have closed captioning.
Improve Yourself
Look for methods to improve yourself this summer like taking an exercise class or learning to paint. Arrive early, so that you can get a spot up front. Take a couple of friends with you and let them fill you in on what you might miss during the session.
Take Safety Precautions This Summer
There are a couple of summertime traditions which require you to take safety measures to protect yourself, your ears, and any expensive hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:
- Taking care while at the pool or swimming. Make sure you take care of your hearing aids from water damage and put in some earplugs if you go into the water to avoid ear infections.
- Remember not to take evening walks on your own. You may miss the warning sounds from potential hazards like oncoming vehicles or maybe even a threatening stranger coming up behind you.
- If you are attending fireworks or maybe a concert, wear ear protection.
Try to Make The Most of it This Summer
Most of these summer obstacles become less substantial if you do three easy things.
- Have your ears examined by a hearing specialist. It may be possible your hearing loss is treatable.
- Get a professional hearing examination, to determine if you do actually have hearing loss.
- Get good-quality hearing aids. They will filter out any background noises so you hear what’s relevant.
Having fun is what summer is all about. Don’t permit hearing loss take it away from you.