You booked a spring getaway to escape the stresses of everyday life, not trade them in for new ones. Follow these quick tips to keep your vacation memorable and your hearing loss the last of your worries.
1. Select your destination carefully
Consider activities available, population, nightlife and average traffic. A busy city with a 2 a.m. bedtime or constant taxi honking can create undesirable stress during your trip. If you are an iNOW user, consider using SoundSpace within your TruLink Control app. You can easily adjust sound settings to specific environments and save it as a TruLink memory. This way, you can enjoy hearing in any environment.
2. Do your research
Does the hotel provide auxiliary aids, telephones that are compatible with hearing aids or visual alarm clocks? Think about what you need for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hotels and motels must be accessible to individuals with hearing loss. The ADA applies to all inns, hotels, motels or other places of lodging.
3. Sign up for travel notifications
Make your reservations online and sign up for email or text confirmations and alerts. By doing so, you will have easy access to your itinerary, and you won’t miss important announcements about delays or cancellations. If you prefer to work with a travel agency, request an agent who specializes in working with the deaf or hard of hearing, and ask them for emailed confirmations of all arrangements.
4. When in doubt, pack it
Make a checklist of everything you need to keep your hearing aids functional, clean and protected. Pack necessary supplies such as batteries, a storage case, cleaning tools, extra tubing, and remotes and chargers for any other devices. Don’t forget a voltage converter if you’re traveling internationally or drying equipment if you’re visiting a humid location. To reduce the risk of loss or damage, be sure to pack these items in your carry-on. If you need any of additional items for your trip, contact us today and we'd be happy to help!
5. Communicate persistently
After identifying your needs for a stress-free vacation, communicate them with the people around you – your travel companions, airport security officers, flight attendants and hotel staff, among others. When passing through airport security, you are not required to remove your hearing aids, but TSA recommends that you inform the security officer before the screening process begins. You may also provide them with a TSA notification card. Don’t hesitate to notify your flight attendants or your seat partner of your hearing loss so they will alert you about any announcements.
6. Protect your hearing aids
Remember to keep your hearing aids clean as you move from place to place as they can gather bacteria on airplanes and at heavily-populated tourist locations. Store your hearing aids in their appropriate case in the same safe location every night.
Still have questions about traveling with hearing loss? Contact us today!