How to Stay Comfortable in Noisy Summer School Holidays

How to Stay Comfortable in Noisy Summer School Holidays

January often brings a burst of activity. Pools echo with splashes, cinemas fill with excitement, and family days out suddenly become the highlight of the season. These moments can be joyful, but they can come with more noise than many of us expect, especially when the school holidays are in full swing. 

If you’re spending more time in these lively places this summer, a few simple listening strategies can help you stay comfortable and enjoy each moment at your own pace. With the right adjustments, you can feel grounded, confident and connected to the people around you.

Understand Why These Places Feel Loud

Many popular summer spots have naturally high noise levels. Large open areas, crowds, and hard surfaces can all amplify sound. This can make conversations feel tiring or harder to follow, especially for those with hearing loss.¹ 

You may notice this in places like:

• Pools and aquatic centres: Hard tiles can bounce sound around, creating an echo. 
• Cinemas: Sudden changes in volume during movies may feel overwhelming. 
• Arcades and family entertainment venues: Constant background noise can make speech harder to pick out. 
• Playgrounds and play centres: Large spaces often magnify voices and movement. 
• Outdoor attractions: Summer crowds and traffic can increase ambient noise. 

Knowing what to expect in these areas can help you prepare and plan for comfort.

Choose Comfortable Listening Spots

Positioning yourself thoughtfully can make a meaningful difference to your hearing experience.² 

You may find that:

• Sitting slightly away from speakers or busy walkways to help reduce background noises.
• Facing the people you’re talking to can help you pick up facial cues or read their lips.
• Choosing well-lit areas can help you see visual cues like facial expressions and lip movements. This can support comfort and reduce listening effort in noisy settings. 
• Standing or sitting with your back to a wall may lessen echo and surrounding noise.

Together, these simple positioning choices may support clearer conversations, reduce listening effort and help you stay comfortable and engaged for longer.

Take Short Breaks To Reset

Busy environments can demand more listening effort. Research shows that working harder to follow conversations may contribute to listening fatigue, especially in noisy settings.³ Short breaks can help give your ears and attention a chance to rest.

• Some simple ways to take a break include:
• Stepping outside for a moment of quiet.
• Taking a seat away from the main activity.

Pausing between conversations to reduce listening fatigue.

Use Technology That Supports You

If you wear hearing aids, modern features can help you feel more comfortable in loud places.⁴ 

Many features include:

• Directional microphones focus on sounds in front of you and reduce background noise, helping you hear speech more clearly in noisy environments.
• Background noise management to soften busy environments. 
• Automatic settings that may adjust when you move between quiet and noisy areas. 
• Rechargeable options for a full day of support during long outings. 

If you’re unsure how to use these features, your hearing care professional can help you get the most from your devices during the holiday period. 

Plan For Comfortable Outings

A little planning goes a long way when it comes to noisy environments. 

To help you feel more at ease during the school holidays, you may want to:

• Visit busy places earlier in the day when crowds are smaller.
• Choose quieter sessions at cinemas or attractions when possible.
• Let family members know if certain spots help you hear more clearly or if you are uncomfortable in certain environments.
• Ensure you regularly clean your hearing aids and that they have enough charge to get you through the day.

These small habits can help you enjoy every outings while staying relaxed and comfortable. Letting those around you know what supports your hearing can also make shared experiences feel easier and more enjoyable.

If noisy environments have started feeling more tiring or harder to navigate, a hearing check can help you understand what’s going on and offer helpful clarity. If you have any concerns about changes in your hearing, reaching out to a hearing care professional is a supportive next step. Book an appointment at your local Connect Hearing clinic today and step into the school holidays feeling supported, informed, and ready to enjoy every moment. Our friendly team can guide you through each step and help you find the best solution for your individual needs. 

References

1. Trends in Hearing (4 June 2023), Listening Effort in Quiet and Noisy Environments in the Daily Life of Adults with Hearing Aids: An Extended Version of the Effort Assessment Scale (EEAS), National Library of Medicine, accessed 5 December 2025. 

2. Community Eye Health Journal (2013), Improving communication with patients with a hearing impairment, National Library of Medicine, accessed 5 December 2025. 

3. BMJ Open (22 December 2024), Development of measures to assess listening-related effort and fatigue in daily life among hearing aid users: protocol for a quantitative field trial, National Library of Medicine, accessed 5 December 2025. 

4. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (13 November 2023), Comfort features of hearing aids, www.health.gov.au, accessed 5 December 2025.