Travel tips for people with hearing aids

Initial general recommendations include packing enough batteries, and chargers. Also, a dehumidifier if you’re traveling to a humid climate. It is also important to remember that other people cannot see hearing loss and don’t know someone wears hearing aids. As a result, letting people know they may need to speak more distinctly and look at you when speaking can make a real difference.

Tips for traveling by car include adding GPS navigation instructions to the hearing aid’s connectivity options. This means that you can stream directions to the hearing aid and not take your eyes off the road. Staying aware of the surroundings by reducing distracting noise can also improve safety.

Traveling by train can be particularly noisy. This is where background noise-reducing hearing aids can be especially useful. Using an app for train departure information, any changes, and stops can help to reduce stress related to understanding announcements made by train staff.

At the airport, apps are also useful for getting any important information directly. When passing through security, AARP reminds hearing aid users that they are not required to remove any hearing aids or cochlear implants. Travelers may, however, be given a pat-down if the hearing device sets off the metal detector or imaging scanner. Importantly, hearing devices should not be placed on the X-ray belt because this could damage the microphones.

Source: AARP