When we dream of our next getaway, we often visualize the sights, the local flavours, and the new experiences that await. While travelling is about seeing and tasting, we rarely consider the symphony of sounds that defines our journey.
Getting to our destination often involves flying, and a trip through the airport will put our hearing to the test. According to Statistics Canada, 5.6% of Canadians report hearing difficulties that limit their daily activities. In a demanding listening environment like the airport, struggling to hear when you need it most can mean a bumpy start to your trip.
Airports Are One of the Hardest Places to Hear
Even for people with normal hearing, airports can be noisy and overwhelming:
- Announcements coincide with rolling luggage
- Conversations in noisy airport restaurants can interfere with boarding calls
- Large terminals can create echoes, making speech harder to understand
For someone experiencing hearing loss, following important information in these environments can require intense concentration. Missing a gate change or asking someone to repeat directions can signal more than just travel challenges; it can be an early sign that hearing is becoming more difficult.
Why Travel Can Feel More Exhausting Than It Should
Long travel days are tiring for everyone, but hearing loss can add another layer of fatigue that many people don't expect.
Hearing care professionals often refer to this as listening effort. When hearing becomes more difficult, the brain has to work harder to fill in missing words, separate speech from background noise and interpret conversations. That extra mental effort builds throughout the day.
Research has shown that sustained speech-processing demands can contribute to mental fatigue for people with hearing loss. If you picture a typical travel day, you can begin to imagine the toll this can take. You might:
- Listen for boarding announcements
- Ask hotel staff questions
- Order meals in busy restaurants
- Chat with fellow travellers
- Be surrounded by unfamiliar sounds
By the end of the day, the constant effort required to keep up with every conversation and announcement can be what’s making you feel exhausted.
How Travel Reveals Hearing Loss
At home, many people may undergo gradual hearing loss without noticing. They become familiar with the voices of family members, choose quieter restaurants, increase the television volume or rely on visual cues during conversations. These small adjustments allow for hearing loss to go unnoticed.
During travel, there are new people to meet, busy terminals, guided tours, crowded transit stations and important announcements that can't be repeated on demand. Statistics Canada found that 77% of adults aged 40 to 79 with measured hearing loss were unaware they had it, highlighting how easily hearing changes can develop gradually.
For some Canadians, a vacation or business trip becomes the first time they notice they're asking travel companions, "What did they say?" more often than usual.
Preparing Before You Leave
Just as you would check your passport or pack an extra phone charger before a trip, it's worth thinking about your hearing health before your next trip.
- If you wear hearing aids, consider scheduling a check-up with a hearing care professional before you travel.
- A quick appointment can help ensure your devices are clean, functioning properly and adjusted for the different listening environments you may encounter.
- It's also helpful to pack chargers or extra batteries, cleaning supplies and a protective storage case in your carry-on luggage.
- If your hearing aids connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, test the connection before leaving home so you're prepared to stream phone calls or other audio while away.
Closing Thoughts
Travelling allows us to create memories that can last a lifetime. Yet many Canadians don't realize the role their hearing plays in these experiences until sounds become harder to hear.
Travel is about more than reaching a destination. It's about sharing conversations with loved ones, confidently hearing boarding announcements, discovering local music and experiencing the sounds that become part of your memories.
If those moments are becoming harder to hear, it may be worth booking an online hearing test as an easy first step. To determine if an in-clinic test is necessary before your next adventure.
Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice. Please consult a hearing care specialist to address your unique needs.
About the author
Katie Koebel, M.Cl.Sc., Reg. CASLPO is an audiologist and Senior Manager of Audiology at HearingLife, Canada’s largest group of hearing centres with over 350 locations across the country. HearingLife clinics use the most advanced hearing aid technology, clinical support, and diagnostic equipment. Katie is an Audiologist registered with CASLPO and has been providing her clients with the best possible hearing health care with HearingLife for over 17 years.
If you’re at high risk of hearing damage, it is advisable to have your hearing checked regularly and advocate for proper hearing protection in your workplace. For more information on different types of hearing loss and educational resources, visit a hearing clinic near you.
