Travel is a wonderful experience for everyone. Going out and exploring the world can enrich your life in many ways. Whether you have hearing loss or not, ensuring you get the most from your trip is vital. However, suppose you wear hearing aids or have some level of hearing loss. In that case, you need to pay attention to specific details of your trip to improve your hearing while traveling and enjoy the time away as much as possible.
What can you do to ensure you have a better hearing when traveling? In the first instance, talking to your hearing instrument specialist (HIS) about caring for your hearing aid in different climates or experiencing various activities can help you avoid accidental damage.
You can also ask them to check the fitting on your hearing aid and the programming, if required, so you are in the best possible condition before you travel. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and discover you have problems with your hearing aid.
These five tips can help you prepare for your trip with hearing loss.
Pack Extra Batteries
The last thing you want is for your hearing aid to run out of steam, and you don’t have the correct number of batteries to back you up. Always pack extra batteries than you would usually use to avoid being caught short and unable to wear your device. The same goes for wearing rechargeable hearing aids. Ensure you have a charger or even a spare on just in case to avoid technical difficulties when traveling.
Cleaning Care Kit
While you should have a cleaning care kit for your day-to-day hearing aid maintenance, paying attention to the environment where you are traveling can help ensure you have everything you need for your trip. This is especially important if you are visiting a hotter, more humid climate than you are used to, as dust and moisture can easily damage your hearing aid if you don’t clean it properly.
The same goes for wearing more perfume or hairspray, for example, than you usually would. Being able to remove build-up can help you to avoid damage from external products and environments quickly. A soft-bristled brush and a cloth can help you to take care of your hearing aid when traveling.
Take your Storage Container
Like at home, you must protect your hearing devices to ensure you can still use them when required, especially if you wear them infrequently. An essential tip is to remember to take your storage container to avoid losing or damaging your hearing aids when you aren’t wearing them. Purchasing a dehumidifier for hearing aids can help you to keep them moisture free in hotter climates or if you are going to be in the water a lot.
The same goes for any hearing aid accessories you might be taking too. If they are exposed to contaminants, they might pass this to your hearing aid through contact or damage them. Ensure your hearing aid accessories are stored safely when not used at all times.
Learn About Your Hearing Aid
A simple but effective tip to discover more about what your hearing can and can’t do and how best to handle it. It can be helpful to learn more about your hearing aid’s functions and capabilities, such as Bluetooth being handy in different situations. Your hearing instrument specialist can assist you with this if required. If you need to adjust anything, or change settings, for example, knowing how best to do this to avoid damage is vital as you won’t be able to visit your audiologist to do so easily.
Use The Loop
The T-coil loop is something you may be familiar with at home. However, many countries have this technology installed in public places, attractions and stores. Switching to T-loop can allow you to better experience what is happening around you and support your hearing, so you don’t miss out on anything. If there isn’t a visible sign to inform you of a hearing loop, ask reception to see if this is available.
When it comes to traveling with hearing loss, there is no reason why your hearing aid can’t support you as it does in your typical day-to-day activities. You can easily experience everything your destination has to offer. At the same time, you might need to make extra accommodations and put some effort into planning your trip.
To learn more about how you can support your hearing when traveling, talk to our audiologists today at Galco Hearing Aid Service and call today at (281) 245-0520.
