Tips for Travelling with Hearing Aids

From packing and planning transportation to dealing with crowded airports, traveling can be stressful enough. Add hearing loss to the mix, and it can get tricky very fast. 

However, being proactive and safeguarding your hearing health in all circumstances is critical, especially if you wear hearing aids. You can maximize your enjoyment by taking a little more time to consider and plan for your hearing needs.

Being aware of the precise ways that travel can affect your hearing can help to decrease the risk of harm. There are also a few helpful hints to be aware of and put into practice so that you may make the most of your time on the road!

Take an overview of potential hearing difficulty flashpoints

Making a quick assessment of where you're going, the activities you'll be doing, the modes of transportation you'll be using, and the environments you'll be in can help you discover potential hearing risks and how to mitigate them. 

This includes the following:

• Airplane Noise: Depending on the length of your travel, you may be subjected to prolonged exposure to loud airplane noise. Tinnitus (a buzzing or ringing noise in the ears) is also frequent on flights due to changes in elevation and pressure levels.
• Loud Noise Exposure: You may encounter loud venues on your travels, such as concerts, tourist sites, train stations, and amusement parks.
• Climate: If you are in a tropical or humid climate, your hearing aids may be affected by moisture in and around the ears.
• Swimmers Ear: This is an ear infection that arises when swimming leaves excess water in the ears.
  

Knowing about these dangers will help you prepare and pack for everything you'll be doing while on the road.

Tips for traveling with hearing aids

Make a checklist: It can be challenging to remember all of the items you'll need for your hearing aids, so preparing a list can be really useful! For example, extra batteries, a cleaning kit, and any attachments you have (Bluetooth connectivity, dehumidifier - removes moisture from hearing aids, which can be helpful in tropical conditions, etc.) should all be on your list. You should also keep your hearing aids and accessories in a separate bag so that they are always within reach.

Charge Hearing Aids: Before leaving, make sure you charge your hearing aids overnight. In addition to extra batteries, include any essential converters and adapters if traveling internationally.

Sign up for Text Alerts: Staying up to date with your flight information can be as simple as sending a text message. Rather than depending on difficult-to-hear announcements in airports, signing up for SMS alerts ahead of time is an easy method to be aware of any changes or delays to your trip.

Always Wear Your Hearing Aids: It's crucial to remember that hearing aids aren't regulated like other technological devices are. This enables you to wear them throughout the airport as well as for the duration of your journey. When you pass through security, you do not have to remove your hearing aids, and screening equipment does not harm them. Additionally, you can also wear them during flight take-off and landing.

Notify Others: Informing a few people about your hearing loss will help you avoid missing out on critical information. For example, it is frequently advised that security agents be notified and flight attendants so that they are alerted in the event of an emergency.

Hearing Protection: Depending on the types of surroundings you'll be in, covering your ears can assist you in avoiding further damage to your hearing. Earplugs, earmuffs, or headphones can reduce the quantity of noise absorbed by your ears. Additionally, if you plan on swimming, make sure to take off your hearing aids and use earplugs. After that, make sure your ears are dry before re-inserting your hearing aids. This keeps the swimmer's ear, a kind of ear infection, at bay.

Some general tips for hearing better upon landing

Make your tour guides and fellow passengers aware of your hearing loss and offer specific advice on how they might assist you to hear better. Tell your guides you'll stick close to them so you can hear and see their faces better when lipreading. Request ahead of time that they speak properly and only in front of the group when possible.

Request quiet corner seats at restaurants when dining out, or sit outside when the weather permits. Solicit recommendations from your hotel concierge for calmer places where you can book a table.

Despite having hearing loss, you can avoid mishaps and be ready to fully enjoy your vacation by taking the time to prepare for your trip. Contact our audiology practice in Phoenix, AZ with any questions.