Travel Tips for Hearing Aid Users

Hearing aids can significantly improve your quality of life, but they can also be a bit of a hassle to travel with. Here are some tips to ensure your hearing aids survive the trip and help you enjoy your vacation.

Make accommodations ahead of time

When planning a trip, travelers with hearing loss face a unique set of challenges. In addition to the usual considerations, they must also take into account their need for hearing-impaired accommodations. Fortunately, most hotels in developed countries provide rooms with appropriate amenities for people with hearing loss. These rooms often have features such as flashing lights for the phone and doorbell, which can make communication much easier. If you are traveling with a tour company, make sure they are aware of your special requirements ahead of time. 

Many museums, theaters, and performance spaces now offer hearing loops or other assistive listening devices if you request them in advance. This ensures that everyone can enjoy the experience without missing a beat. To find out if your local venues offer this service, simply send them an email and ask. Most are happy to provide up-to-date information so that everyone can enjoy the show. 

When planning a trip to a new destination, it’s always a good idea to learn about the location before you go. Educating yourself on the names of significant places and important historical figures will make them sound more familiar and easier to understand when you hear them. 

Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself

When traveling with hearing loss, it is essential to take some extra steps to ensure that you have a positive experience. Be sure to inform your tour guides and traveling group about your hearing loss. This will help them to understand your needs and allows them to provide the necessary accommodations. It is also helpful to request that they speak loudly and clearly and that they should always try to face the group when speaking. 

Additionally, it is a good idea to bring along an assistive listening device in case you need to bypass background noise and transmit important dialogue directly to your hearing aids. 

When it comes to dining out, you should always try to secure a quiet corner table. If weather permits, sitting outside may also be an option that reduces background noise. 

Protect your hearing

Exploring a new city or attending a concert can be exciting, though many of these environments can be detrimental to your hearing. And while a certain amount of noise is relatively harmless, the more extreme levels you are likely to encounter will require hearing protection. If you have hearing loss, it’s important to take steps to protect your ears when you’re traveling. When you find yourself in unusually loud environments, wear earplugs or other forms of ear protection. And if you’re using hearing aids, be sure to adjust the volume settings as needed or remove them altogether to avoid further damaging your hearing. 

Bring spare chargers and batteries

Not being able to hear properly in a different city far from home can be very troublesome. It is vital then that you pack all the necessary supplies to keep your hearing devices powered for the duration of your trip. Replacement batteries and compatible chargers could be extremely challenging to acquire in a foreign locale. Bring extra sets of both and pack them in different travel bags to ensure you have reliable power if one is misplaced. 

Always have a backup plan

It can be difficult to keep track of your belongings when traveling, let alone worry about losing or damaging your hearing aids. However, with a bit of planning, it is possible to enjoy your trip without stressing about your hearing device. If you happen to have extra hearing aids, packing them could be a lifesaver in an emergency. However, not everyone has the luxury of having spare hearing aids, and contingency plans are essential. For example, you can test out a pocket-talker or an FM system to see if they work well for you. Another option is to connect a high-quality headset to an app on your smartphone. That way, if anything happens to your hearing aids, you’ll still be able to hear and communicate effectively. 

By taking some time to plan ahead, you can ensure that a loss or malfunction of your hearing aids doesn’t ruin your trip. Contact us to schedule an appointment for maintenance or repairs ahead of your next trip!