How to Travel with Tinnitus

Traveling with tinnitus or hearing loss can cause unwanted anxiety, putting people off travel completely and stopping them from enjoying the simple pleasure of exploration. One of the most common fears associated with traveling and tinnitus is flying, especially how the change in air pressure and engine noise may affect their tinnitus causing pain or discomfort. Although a valid concern, the good news is that with proper preparation these issues can be easily overcome. So here's how to travel with tinnitus.

Stopping Engine Noise

Whether traveling on a plane, train, or bus, one of the most common concerns for those with tinnitus is that the engine noise will further damage their hearing worsening their tinnitus. In general, the engine noise produced by a plane, train, or bus is in the mid-frequency range, whereas most people with tinnitus experience it in the higher frequencies and so the noise should not cause any adverse effects. If you are very sensitive to loud noises or have tinnitus within the mid-frequency range, then there are also some extra precautions that you can take. Firstly, you can request to sit in the front portion of the plane, or at the front of the bus as this is often the furthest from the engine and is therefore slightly quieter. To block the noise even further, consider using a set of foam earplugs that will reduce the noise by around 30 decibels, or use a pair of noise-canceling headphones that will remove the engine noise and allow you to play your own ambient sounds.

Reducing Air Pressure Changes

Many people dislike the feeling of their ears popping when traveling by plane but for those with tinnitus or hearing loss it can be particularly uncomfortable and unpleasant especially if they cannot get their ears to pop. The popping sensation experienced when on a plane is caused by air in the Eustachian tube inside the ear escaping to equalize the pressure. The key to stopping your ears from hurting or becoming painful during this process is opening up the Eustachian tube to allow the air to escape which can be done in a couple of different ways. The first way to open the Eustachian tube is simply to swallow. Rather than trying to time your swallow, simply chew a piece of gum or suck on a boiled sweet during take-off and landing to promote the swallowing motion. Another way to open the Eustachian tube is to do the Valsalva maneuver which involves pinching the nose and gently blowing air with your mouth closed. This will unblock your ears and cause a small pop as the pressure equalizes. If you have a head cold or a sinus infection, then your Eustachian tubes may become blocked,d making it harder to pop your ears. In this case, there are a number of medications that can help to shrink the membranes inside the ears making it easier for them to pop.

Sleeping in a Hotel

Staying at a hotel presents a new set of challenges for those with tinnitus and hearing loss but with a few tinnitus management techniques, you'll be sleeping just as well as you do at home. Firstly, always remember to tell hotel staff about your hearing loss or tinnitus so that in the event of an emergency they know that you may need extra assistance. In your room itself, make use of the air conditioning unit if you have one, to set the room to between 60-68 degrees Fahrenheit as this is the optimum temperature for sleep. If you struggle to fall asleep without ambient noise, then consider asking reception for a fan, or bring a tinnitus masking device with you that will play an ambient sound to help you tune out from your tinnitus. Natural sleep aids can also help you to fall asleep, so consider packing some herbal sleep-inducing teas or trying a meditation before bed to relax you.

When Sightseeing

If you plan to sightsee on your trip and would like to use an audio-guide, consider using one with subtitles to help you decipher the audio in loud and crowded situations, and don't be afraid to plug in your own headphones if they are more comfortable and better quality than those provided. If following a tour guide, let him or her know about your tinnitus and stay close to the front of the group so that you can more easily hear what they are saying.

With some simple preparation, tinnitus and hearing loss should not stop you from living life to the fullest and visiting all of the destinations on your bucket list—so don't let it hold you back.