Novus Health column: Protecting your hearing while travelling

Whether you’re heading off on holiday, visiting family, or taking a short trip, travelling is something most of us look forward to. But busy stations, loud engines and changing air pressure can take their toll on your ears, especially if you already have hearing difficulties or wear hearing aids. Here’s our straightforward guide to looking after your hearing, wherever you’re going.

How travel can affect your ears

There are two main things to watch out for: loud noise and changes in air pressure.

Busy airports, train platforms, motorways and crowded terminals can be surprisingly noisy. Being around loud sounds for any length of time can damage the delicate, tiny parts inside your ears over time, even if you don’t notice it straight away.

Flying brings its own challenges. As the plane climbs or descends, air pressure changes quickly, which can make your ears feel blocked, pop, or even feel a little sore. For most people, this passes quickly, but for some, it can leave hearing feeling muffled for a while after landing.

Simple ways to help your ears adjust during a flight:

• Swallow regularly, yawn wide, or chew sugar-free gum during take-off and landing

• Special pressure-regulating earplugs are available from most pharmacies, they work well if you fly often or find your ears troublesome

• If you have a cold or blocked sinuses, you may find the pressure affects you more, speak to your pharmacist for advice before you travel

Looking after your hearing aids when away

If you wear hearing aids, a little extra care will keep them working well:

• Keep them in a protective case when you’re not wearing them, to keep them safe and dry

• Humidity, rain or sweat can damage delicate parts. A small drying pouch or dehumidifier is handy to use overnight

• Pack extra batteries, or your charger and adaptors if you use rechargeable aids. Keep these in your hand luggage so they don’t get lost.

• If travelling abroad, remember to check what plug sockets are used in your destination

Wherever you’re travelling, try to sit away from loud engines, speakers or ventilation fans. If noise feels overwhelming, soft earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can take the edge off without stopping you hearing what you need to.

Making communication easier

It can be harder to hear clearly in busy, noisy spaces and that’s completely normal. If you let station staff, drivers, or cabin crew know you have hearing difficulties, most will be happy to speak clearly, face you, or provide written information where needed.

There are also free mobile apps that convert speech to text, which can be really helpful if you’re struggling to follow announcements or to talk to people in noisy places.

When to get help

If you notice any new changes after travelling, such as ringing in your ears, sounds feeling muffled, or pain that doesn’t fade. It’s best to get it checked out.

At Novus Health, our audiologists are here to help with hearing tests, advice on protecting your hearing, and support with your hearing aids. To access our adult hearing loss service, you’ll just need a referral from your GP first.

We run clinics across Wakefield, Normanton and Pontefract. For more details on our services, visit novushealth.co.uk