NEWS COPY
Hearing problems mean many Brits are missing out on dream holidays, a study has found.
Difficulties hearing among crowds or background noise mean two fifths of those who suffer from some form of hearing impairment are avoiding holidays to noisy or city destinations altogether.
And almost a quarter say their hearing problems have led to them being far less adventurous when it comes to travelling.
A third even went as far as to admit their hearing problems make them feel anxious when they go on holiday or travel somewhere new.
The stats emerged in a study of more than 2,000 people who suffer hearing problems, by hearing specialist Amplifon, which also found New York, Madrid and Tokyo have been named among the noisiest travel destinations in the world.
Barry Downes, Professional Services Manager for Amplifon, a leading provider of hearing care in the UK, said: "The world becomes a smaller place for people with hearing loss if they don't take steps to deal with their problems.
"Many admit they become less adventurous when choosing a holiday, not just in terms of the destinations they pick but also the types of activities they take part in.
"One of the most uplifting things about going on holiday, especially if it involves travelling abroad, is being able to immerse yourself in a new culture, which involves taking in the sounds as well as the sights.
"Being able to hear properly is therefore integral to the quality of the experience.
"A third of those surveyed also said their hearing loss made them more anxious about travelling, which is understandable given that they may have problems picking up important information such as flight announcements or details of planned excursions. "
Despite the impact their hearing problems are having on their lives and holidays, a quarter admitted they waited five years or more before seeking professional help.
And more than one in ten (13%) suffered in silence for more than 10 years.
According to charity Action On Hearing Loss, there are thought to be 6.7 million people in the UK who would benefit from a hearing aid but do not currently have one.
Research suggests there is also a strong link between hearing loss and depression, with people becoming more isolated and withdrawn as a result of their impairment.
Hearing loss can affect people in different ways but the early signs include muffling of speech and other sounds, difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people, and trouble hearing consonants.
Barry Downes, Professional Services Manager for Amplifon added: "Despite the fact hearing loss can be isolating and debilitating, it can still take years for people to address their problems, which is time they could have spent enjoying a better quality of life.
"Today's hearing care technology is far more discreet and sophisticated than it used to be.
"For example, certain hearing aids on the market sync to apps such as Google maps, thus alleviating a lot of the stress of getting from A to B, but there are still lots of people out there who don't realise such technology exists."
Do you have hearing loss? Here are 10 tips to make travelling less stressful
1. If travelling in a group, especially if you do not know them well, never be uncomfortable about telling people that you have some hearing loss. It's far better to be open about this rather than add unnecessary stress which makes travelling less enjoyable.
2. Tell your travel agent you are hearing impaired - they can contact airlines, hotels, and attractions to make any necessary reservations.
3. Hearing aid users should always carry spare batteries when travelling just in case they are not available at your travel destination.
4. If you are dependent on hearing aids in your daily life, you should have spare hearing aids in case the unexpected happens. Take these with you when you travel and don't forget to take batteries if they are a different size to your usual hearing aids.
5. Avoid flying with a head cold as this may not only make your hearing worse but cabin pressure changes can cause considerable discomfort especially during descent. If flying with a head cold is unavoidable, use a nasal decongestant and swallow frequently if you feel any pressure in your ears.
6. When travelling by plane, train or coach reserve your seating in a way that ensures background noise is less of a problem. If you have one ear worse than the other, choose an aisle seat so that your better ear is next to any travelling companion.
7. Ask your airline in advance if it provides subtitles for its inflight movies. If not, bring your own subtitled movies on a tablet or mobile phone.
8. If travelling abroad to a hot and/or humid country and you use hearing aids, take a dehumidifier kit with you to use at night to keep your hearing aids protected from the effects of perspiration and air humidity.
9. Do not be afraid to ask for help from fellow travellers - most are more than willing to offer assistance.
10. Nothing makes travelling more stressful than neglecting your hearing health knowing that you may struggle to hear clearly in many situations. If you know you have hearing difficulties, but do not use hearing aids, don't spoil your enjoyment of travelling and have a hearing test well before you travel and follow your hearing care professional's advice.
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