For most people, traveling and boarding a flight is a dreaded ordeal. For those with hearing loss and those who use hearing aids, it’s even more stressful. Hearing loss affects all aspects of traveling. Here are some tips for your hearing care to help you while traveling.
Preparing for the Trip Beforehand
One thing you can do for your hearing while traveling with hearing loss is to focus on what to do before your trip. This includes making sure you have spare hearing aids packed and protected. Double check reservations to make sure that they accommodate those with hearing loss. Plan transportation to take while traveling.
Another part of traveling with hearing aids is knowing your rights with hearing loss. The Air Carrier Access Act, passed in 1986, lists the rights for people who have hearing loss. These include the right to request disability seating. It includes the right to request the same communication that other passengers get. It also gives the right to advocate for yourself and your hearing care.
Passing Through the Airport
People with hearing aids might worry about removing them when going through security. You don’t have to remove hearing aids. Do let TSA know about them and other objects for your hearing care. If you choose not to wear them, don’t place the hearing aids on the conveyor belt. That may cause static electricity and damage them.
More airports have a system in place for those with hearing aids. These systems use electromagnetic signal wire that hearing aids use to pick up. These telecoil systems allow those with hearing aids to hear more without interference. Standard hearing aids will have a setting for this. If you need to find this hearing aid setting, contact your hearing care team for more information.
Boarding Your Flight
When traveling by plane, you don’t have to turn off your hearing aids. Let the flight attendants know about your hearing care accommodations. This will depend on how much hearing care you need for your hearing loss. They can communicate the announcements to you if your hearing loss makes it hard to hear them. You should also bring your own entertainment for your flight, such as a good book. Most in-flight entertainment doesn’t have captioning.
If you want to know more about how to make traveling with hearing loss or hearing aids easier for you, give us a call. You can learn more about hearing care from one of our trusted hearing care professionals. Traveling doesn’t have to be an ordeal with hearing aids.
