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Man grilling unaware of his hearing loss and how getting a hearing aid could help him enjoy time with his family.

Why let your summer be spoiled by flawed hearing? If you’re not aware of your hearing loss, it’s probably even worse. Certain ear conditions and aging carry a prolonged loss of hearing which you might not even detect. When your hearing has declined it’s likely that you won’t participate in many awesome summer activities. There are a few solutions to your loss of hearing that will get you right back out there having summer fun.

Summer Barbecues

Loss of hearing will be challenging at summer barbecues. For one thing, there is a large amount of background noise. People are chatting everywhere. Kids are running about shrieking and playing. You get the sounds of nature like singing birds, barking dogs, and the crackling sound of food cooking on the grill.

If you do have some measure of hearing loss, all of these noises and sounds can be extremely frustrating. This type of background noise can easily overwhelm someone that has hearing loss.

Here are some tips to help you compensate:

Sitting in a quiet place for short periods will help get rid of some of that overwhelming background noise. Facing away from the sun will permit you to look at people when they are talking and read their lips to figure out words you miss.

  • You can reduce the volume of background music. Deciding not to play music is an option if you’re the host. Let the host know about your problem if you are attending someone else’s cookout.
  • Now and then just walk away. It takes a lot of energy struggling to hear. Go inside and away from people for a short time each hour and sit someplace quiet to recharge.
  • Inform others that you can’t hear. It’s aggravating for you and people near you when you try to fake it. Let people know when you can’t hear them. Cupping your ear and other visual clues can indicate that you can’t hear to others. Normally, people will move closer to you or speak louder to help.

Don’t try to hear everything. Accept that you can’t get involved in every conversation. Alternatively, attempt to participate in small groups and set realistic limits for yourself.

Head Outdoors

Do you really realize what you are missing outside? Don’t be frightened to go outside and concentrate on the sounds of the natural world. No, you won’t be capable of hearing everything but with a little concentration, you may hear more than you think possible.

Make a game out of it and listen for:

  • Birds singing
  • Buzzing insects
  • Crickets in the evening
  • Blowing leaves
  • The rain falling
  • People jumping in the pool or playing in the yard
  • Dogs barking
  • Splashing waves

If you only try to listen to one thing at a time, you can manage your expectations every time you go outside, head for the beach or walk in the park.

Enjoy a Vacation or Maybe Just a Day Trip

That’s truly what summer is all about, isn’t it? Decide what type of vacation you might enjoy and if there are constraints that come along with your hearing loss. Sailing or fishing would be perfect but a theme park might be a little too much. Head to the zoo or perhaps go to a nature preserve. Stroll on the boardwalk near the beach or go to a museum.

You have an opportunity to travel this summer so don’t let your hearing loss take that away from you. If you are flying, tell the airline that you have hearing loss when you book the ticket. Inform the hotel, also, so they can give you a room that has accommodations for the hearing impaired like smoke alarms with flashing lights or shaking beds and TVs with closed captioning.

Improve Yourself

Look for ways to improve yourself this summer such as taking a fitness class or learning to paint. Show up early, so you can find a spot up front. If you miss anything, it would be smart to have a friend or two with you to fill in the blanks.

Take Safety Precautions This Summer

There are a number of summer activities that require you to take safeguards to protect yourself, your ears, and any expensive hearing assistance devices you own. Play it safe by:

  • While you are at the pool or beach, make sure you play it safe. Make sure to take care of your hearing aids from water damage and put in some earplugs if you go swimming to avoid ear infections.
  • Bring a friend with you when you go on those nice evening walks. Loss of hearing means that you won’t always hear things like cars coming towards you or even someone coming up behind you.
  • If you are going to fireworks or maybe a live show, wear ear protection.

Making The Most of it This Summer

Most of these summer obstacles become less substantial when you do three easy things.

  • Have your ears checked by a hearing specialist. It is possible that your hearing loss is treatable.
  • Get a professional hearing test, so you know if you do have hearing loss.
  • Get good-quality hearing aids. They can get rid of any background noises so that you hear what is important.

Having fun is what summer is all about. Don’t let hearing loss take it away from you.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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