If you’re planning a trip to an amusement park and you have hearing loss, you may be wondering how you can make the most of the experience. Fortunately, many amusement parks now offer accommodations. We review tips for visiting an amusement park with hearing loss below.
See an Audiologist
If you’re still in the planning phase, consider scheduling a visit with an audiologist before you go. An audiologist is a hearing expert who can administer a diagnostic hearing test and prescribe hearing aids. Hearing aids are medical devices that help you hear better by amplifying sounds in your environment to a level you can detect.
It’s important to seek treatment for your hearing loss if you are prescribed hearing aids so you can communicate better and prevent conditions like depression and dementia. Though approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids, only one in five seek treatment.
Your hearing aids may be compatible with some of the accommodations available at the amusement park.
Ask About Assistive Listening Devices
Once you arrive at the amusement park, ask one of the employees if there are any assistive listening devices available. For example, they may offer captioning devices, headphones that amplify sound or induction loops that can sync with your hearing aids.
Find Live Shows with ASL Interpreters or Captioning
Many amusement parks have live shows in addition to rides. Many include dialogue, so you can ask if there will be an ASL interpreter there so you can follow along.
Alternatively, there may be captioning options at the shows. Closed captioning (CC) can be provided on a portable device that you hold in your lap, or it may be displayed on the large screen that everybody sees.
Ask About Hotel Accommodations
Whether you’re staying in a hotel associated with the amusement park or another local hotel, ask what accommodations they offer, too. They may have an amplified or captioned phone, a shake-awake or lighted alarm clock, strobe light smoke detectors or assistive listening devices. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist, call The Hear Care Center today.