Why you should always pack hearing protection when traveling

For many people, a perfect vacation means escaping the daily routine, unwinding, and finding tranquility. However, the journey to the destination can often be filled with disruptive noises. The roaring airplane turbines, squeaking trains, rumbling travel buses, chatty seat neighbors, rattling ship engines, and festive passengers in the aisle outside the cabin can all be sources of irritation and contribute to heightened travel stress.

Marianne Frickel from the Federal Association of Hearing Aid Acousticians emphasizes, "Our ears are always vigilant, even during sleep. If you seek relaxation, it's important to give your hearing a break." The earlier you experience tranquility during your vacation, the better, as it helps reduce stress levels and enhances relaxation. That's why hearing aid acousticians always recommend including hearing protection in your travel essentials. Unlike simple disposable earplugs, custom-fitted hearing protection sits perfectly in the ear canal and can be reused. It may contain filters that effectively block out noise while allowing for clear communication. With this, you can engage in conversations while safeguarding your hearing, as explained by Frickel, a master hearing aid acoustician.

For those who experience discomfort due to ear pressure during takeoff and landing on an airplane, hearing protection can provide relief. While techniques like chewing, swallowing, yawning, or gently blowing air into the cheeks with a pinched nose can help many people, not everyone finds these methods effective. Marianne Frickel explains, "Special hearing protection solutions can slow down pressure equalization and thus alleviate ear pressure or even ear pain caused by the sudden change in air pressure during takeoff and landing." Children often experience this discomfort more frequently. Frickel further explains, "In young children, the Eustachian tube, which connects the nose and the middle ear and is responsible for natural pressure equalization, is often not fully developed or inadequately trained."

Hearing aid acousticians can provide advice on various hearing protection solutions and create custom ear molds with different filters and features tailored to individual preferences.