Handy Travel Checklist For Hearing Aid Wearers

Author: Kristin Zita

Don’t leave home without it!

If the open road or the wild blue yonder is beckoning this summer, your pre-travel planning probably includes creating an itinerary, booking tickets and hotels, arranging for someone to water your plants and pick up your mail – and a whole lot of packing!

But if you’re someone who wears hearing aids, there are a few extra steps you should consider taking before you hit the road. Wearing hearing aids doesn’t have to hold you back when you’re travelling, and it won’t if you’re organized and do a little bit of research and prep work before you leave.

Use this handy checklist to make sure you’re all set to see the sights and hear the sounds during your vacation!

Before you leave

• Put spare batteries in your carry-on. Extra batteries are a must no matter where you’re going or for how long, but if you’re flying, check with your airline to make sure you’re allowed to have them in carry-on. Some airlines require batteries to be packed in checked luggage.
• Keep all your hearing aid accessories in your carry-on. Your charging station, cleaning tools, filters, and case should never go in your checked luggage. It can go missing during a flight, leaving you without those important tools until your bag is recovered.
• Check to see if you’ll need an adaptor. If you’re travelling overseas, you may need to bring an adaptor for the local power socket in order to charge your hearing aid.
• Invest in a hearing aid dehumidifier. If you’re going somewhere humid or plan to be active while on vacation, a hearing aid dehumidifier will help remove moisture from your hearing aid and battery each night. Moisture is one of the most common causes of hearing aid failure, and keeping them humidity-free will also improve their performance.

While you’re away

• Keep your hearing aids turned on. You need to be able to hear important announcements when you’re in airports, train stations, or on cruise ships. And remember, you don’t need to remove them during security checks (simply mention that you’re wearing them), nor do you need to turn them off during a flight. Hearing aids aren’t what they’re referring to when they ask passengers to turn off electronic devices.
• Let flight staff know you’re wearing hearing aids. Background noise can make it difficult to hear, even with hearing aids. If flight staff know you have hearing loss, they can make sure to face you so you can lip read if necessary.
• Tell hotel staff you have hearing loss. You may be able to secure a room with specific amenities including visual notification features, beds with shakers for alarms, and a TV with closed captioning. Make sure hotel staff know your preferred method of communication if they need to contact you, and always put the do-not-disturb sign on your door so no one will come in without your knowledge if you have your hearing aids out or turned off.
• Ask for help. Tour guides and hotel and transportation staff are there to help ensure that all travelers can safely enjoy their tours and trips—including those with hearing loss. Don’t forget, at some hotels your concierge can even arrange restaurant reservations and activity bookings so you can simply enjoy your time without worrying about making arrangements.

One of the most important things you can do before you head out on your adventure is visit a HearingLife clinic to have your hearing aid checked for fit and condition. You can also ask any questions you may still have about travelling with your hearing aid while you’re there.

HearingLife forms the largest network of hearing clinics with over 400 network clinics across Canada. Staffed by certified hearing healthcare professionals, HearingLife offers the most advanced hearing aid technology and up-to-date diagnostic equipment, as well as clinical support and exclusive 360-AfterCare. Not a hearing aid wearer? You can still #LoveYourEars by visiting HearingLife to book an appointment for a free hearing test today.