Tips for Traveling with Hearing Loss

family fishing on vacation

There aren’t too many things better than packing your bags, boarding a flight and boarding somewhere new and exciting. Indeed, it’s one of life’s pleasures. But of course, not every aspect of a trip can be fun. There are always logistical matters that need to be taken care of. If you have hearing loss, then you might need to think about some additional steps to ensure that your trip runs smoothly. In this blog, we’re going to run through some of the most useful tips for traveling with hearing loss. 

Visit an Audiologist

If you feel you might be in the early stages of hearing loss, then it’s recommended that you visit an audiologist. They’ll be able to determine the extent of your hearing loss, and then make sure that you have the correct treatment option. For instance, that could be getting a hearing aid fitted. Even if you already have a hearing aid, it’s a good idea to schedule another appointment with your audiologist, just to make sure that everything’s working as it should. It’s best to do this before you go on your travels, so that you’re able to hear as well as possible when you’re traveling. 

Where to Stay

A little bit of forward-planning can make your trip all the more straightforward. For one, let’s think about where you’ll be staying. There’ll be no shortage of hotel options to choose from, but they won’t all be equally suitable for people with hearing loss. Before you agree to stay in a place, it’s worthwhile looking to check if they’re hearing loss friendly. Many hotels will have rooms that have specifically designed with people hearing loss in mind. For instance, the room might have flashing lights that function as the doorbell, for instance. 

If there are specific sites and attractions you want to visit, then check whether the tours are hearing loss friendly. Many will be, but you might need to contact them in advance, rather than just turning up. You’ll have to do all of this before your trip, but the good news is that planning a trip can be part of the fun. 

Everything You Need 

If you pack correctly, then you’ll find it much easier to travel well! First, and of course, if you have a hearing aid, then be sure to take it with you! It’ll be difficult, or perhaps impossible, to get a hearing aid when you’re in another country, so this is something that you’ll definitely want to check that you have on you again and again when you leave home.

It’s also recommended that you take some spare batteries with you, too, even if you’ve only recently changed your batteries. They’re only small, so it’s not as if they’ll take up much space! Yet they might just prove to be a trip-saver, should you need them. If you’ve only recently got a hearing aid, then make sure you know how to change the batteries. Your audiologist can show you how if you don’t know.

Talk to People Around You 

A little bit of communication can go a long way. Most people are happy to accommodate others, once they’re aware of their needs. If you’re going on a tour, then make sure the guide knows that you’re hard of hearing. They will likely make an extra effort to stand you, or to face you so that you can lipread. Most professional companies will have procedures for assisting people that are hard of hearing. But they can’t help you if they don’t know that you have hearing loss, so speak up at the earliest opportunity.

Insurance 

One of the fun things about travel is that you never know what will happen. Alas, sometimes that’s a downside. While you’ll hope to have plenty of fun adventures, it’s possible that you end up doing activities that cause harm to your hearing aid. As such, it’s worthwhile getting travel insurance that covers damage to your hearing aid. That way, if something goes wrong, then you know you’ll be able to get another hearing aid without having to splash the cash.

What to Avoid 

Of course, even if you have insurance, you’ll want to look after your hearing aid. It’s much easier to keep it safe than replace it! You can minimize the chances of your hearing aid becoming damaged by avoiding things that will, well, damage it. These include sand, water and extreme sports. You can still enjoy those things but take the hearing aid out first!

If you want to learn more about The Hearing Doctor give us a call at (630) 315-2899.