Hearing Device Travel Tips
With Memorial Day approaching, you may be preparing for travel. Whether you’re jumping in the car for a road trip or hopping on a plane to somewhere far away, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you travel.
Don’t Forget the Essentials!
When packing, ensure these hearing aid essentials make the trip:
- Batteries: On vacation, you may find yourself wearing your hearing devices longer than usual. As a result, pack an extra pack of batteries in case you are not able to buy new ones easily!
- Cleaning tools: Make sure to bring your cleaning brush and maintain normal daily cleaning of your hearing devices. We don’t want you taking time away from friends and family to find a local hearing professional to fix breakdowns that could have been avoided!
- Dryer: In Colorado, we often don’t need to worry about moisture, but if you happen to visit a humid destination, be sure to pick up a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier from our office and use it nightly.
- Charging device: For individuals with rechargeable hearing aids, don’t forget your charging station! You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget the tool necessary to charge your hearing devices!
- Wax guards: A clogged wax guard can be a bummer. It’s especially disappointing when you didn’t bring any extras! Make sure to bring an extra pack to fix problems as they arise.
Tips for Flying
- Wear your hearing aids! You may be tempted to take your hearing aids out when flying. Please don’t! When hearing aids are in your ears, you’re less likely to forget bringing them!
- Bring supplies in your carry-on. Having batteries, cleaning supplies, and accessories readily accessible helps you address unforeseen issues. We know air travel is full of unexpected surprises. Bring supplies with to avoid having to wait to access your checked luggage.
- Security. Hearing devices will not set off the metal detectors or body scanners, but it might be a good idea to tell security you are wearing hearing devices prior to entering a detector or scan. If you are asked to put them through the x-ray scanner, don’t worry, no harm will be done to the hearing device.
- In flight use. The mandate to turn off electronics does not apply to hearing aids. Wearing your hearing aids during the flight will make it easier to hear your travel companions as well as the flight staff and announcements!
Tips for Road Trips
- Driving – Make good choices. Due to the constant presence of road noise, you may become fatigued from straining to hear travel companions. If you reach a point where you are feeling tired from the strain, be safe and ask someone else to drive.
- Reduce distracting noise. Radio, books on tape and catching up on the news provide excellent sources of entertainment while driving. Noise inside the car makes it difficult to perceive noises outside the car. If your awareness is impaired by the sounds coming from the car speaker, simply turn it down or off.
- Consider a remote mic. Talking with your travel companions can be hard for people who wear hearing devices. To reduce strain, consider a remote mic to deliver your travel companion’s voice directly into your ears!
Try employing a few of the tips above this Memorial Day to make travel easier and your vacation more enjoyable!
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!