sTo make quick, informed decisions and prevent yourself from becoming a statistic, you need to perform careful driving, which requires strong visual and auditory capabilities. When hearing loss is combined with frequent driving distractions, the risk for drivers increases substantially.
Everyone is concerned about their safety, especially on the road. Unfortunately, hearing loss reduces one’s ability to hear important safety cues such as honking horns, blaring sirens, and vehicle acceleration. People with hearing loss drive only with the use of a hearing aid, as this greatly improves their ability to hear. Even if you have hearing aids, you need to be conscious about the hazards you can face on the road.
In this article, we’ll share some tips to help you stay focused while driving with hearing aids.
You Need to Keep Distractions at Bay
It is not a good idea to multitask while driving. That means you should do the most obvious thing and put your phone down. Don’t text and drive because it causes a lot of accidents. Even if you have the hands-free option when conversing, talking on your phone can be just as distracting.
When you’re using the phone to text or call, you’re more concerned with typing a response or straining to keep up with the conversation than with paying attention to the road. If you absolutely must use your phone, pull over to the side of the road to avoid any possible collisions.
Reduce the Volume of Your Music
Reduce the volume while driving so you can concentrate on external auditory cues.
Even for those with normal hearing, driving while listening to music at high volumes is a distraction. The capacity to perceive sound signals from the driving environment is harmed when music is played too loudly.
Loud music becomes the primary auditory source you pick up while driving if you have hearing loss or use a hearing aid. Important sounds, such as honking or sirens, are pushed to the background, compromising driving safety.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
It is critical to keep your eyes on the road while driving. It’s much more important if you wear a hearing aid. When it comes to navigating the wide road, visual clues are even more important.
Be aware of traffic signals and use your side and rear view mirrors on a regular basis. Hearing loss can make it difficult to determine the relative distance between moving vehicles, so being aware of your surroundings is important 0for safeguarding yourself and other drivers.
Wear Your Hearing Aids at All Times
When driving, always wear your hearing aids. Driving with hearing aids allows you to hear sounds you wouldn’t typically hear, but it’s still vital to be aware of your car’s environment and how it could affect your hearing aid’s effectiveness.
Driving with your windows down, for example, may impair your ability to hear properly since the draft from the window adds distracting noise. To avoid endangering yourself, your passengers, and other drivers, turn on the car’s fan or air conditioning instead.
Conclusion
If you think you have a possible hearing loss and are driving regularly, it’s important to get a hearing exam as soon as possible. Getting a hearing aid improves both your hearing and your safety on the road. If you already wear hearing aids, make sure to have them checked on a regular basis.
If you’re looking for high-quality hearing aids in Londonderry, check out the collection from Hear More Associates! We’re the most trusted hearing care specialists, caring for patients throughout Greater Boston, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Check out our services today!
