Hearing Aids & Holidays - 12 Essential Tips for Travelling.
Which style of hearing aids are best to fly with and are rechargeable hearing aids really what they are cracked up to be when travelling abroad? These and other questions answered as you learn about how best to travel with hearing aids.
Buy a pair of small in-the-ear hearing aids
They're easier to fit and forget about. They won't get pulled out when pulling a jumper off and you can safely have a snooze. They'll also work with a pair of over-the-ear/noise-cancelling headphones on a long haul flight so you watch the in-flight movie in comfort. You may also have to wear a face mask these days which can easily flick off a pair of behind-the-ear hearing aids without you noticing.
Make sure you can control them with your phone.
You'll have this with you anyway and a remote control is just another thing to carry around and potentially lose. You'll also want to be able to lower the volume to completely off. Then your super comfortable in-the-ear hearing aids act as ear plugs on the plane!
Don't even think about leaving them at home!
You may think that you can get by without your hearing aids, but you'll be asking people to repeat themselves way to often or worse, you'll just be pretending to hear them. Don't be that travelling partner. You may also have to compromise on places you'd like to see and do based on the background noise if you don't have your hearing aids.
Pack your hearing aids safely
The safest place to keep them is in your ears but if you must take them out then you'll need a small hard travel case that should have been supplied when you first got them. Ask for another if you've lost it as hearing centres always have loads of spares and they should be happy to supply one free of charge. Put them away in your hand luggage straight away even if you plan to put them back in. I've left so many things on planes before.
Bring enough batteries or a charging dock?
Take a packet of batteries with you. They are really small and easy to pack. Chargers may sound handy but carrying the cables, plug adapter and a charging dock around everywhere you go is no fun. Normal batteries last 5/6 days on average and a rechargeable solution will usually last a day. You cannot count on finding the right batteries in a foreign country or, even being able to explain what you are looking for.
What else do you need?
A cleaning brush will likely be all you need but I'd probably take some wax guards as well just to be on the extra safe side. These should fit in your hearing aid case. It depends how long your going for whether you need any of the other bits and pieces.
Don’t count on travel insurance to cover your hearing aids
Travel insurance often either does not cover the loss of hearing aids or only provides limited coverage. Make sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what is covered. Before you leave home, consider buying separate insurance for your hearing aids. Your home insurance won’t cover them away from your home either.
Consider purchasing a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers for hearing aids can be a lifesaver on a trip depending on where you are going. For home use or for a longer time away, a plugin dehumidifier with a 360 degree UV light is best but when out on your travels, a plastic drying cup and a drying crystal tab is the best option. These are virtually indestructible and you won't care so much if something gets crushed or lost.
Let your tour operators and guides know.
Most people reading this will have a mild to moderate hearing loss and hearing aids will correct their hearing but if you have a more severe loss, then tell your tour operator and tour guides about your hearing loss. Tell them that visual clues and line of sight are important to your comprehension so they understand why you are standing in front all of the time! There comes a point where letting as many people know about your hearing loss as possible must become part of your strategy for hearing better and getting on with people. If you're away with a group, then this becomes more important.
Keep your hearing aids away from water, sand, and snow.
Contrary to some opinion, no hearing aid is completely waterproof. Wearing hearing aids completely in the canal will give them the most protection from the elements but swimming is definitely not an option. Therefore, there will likely will be times when you'll need to take them out. Plan ahead and make sure you have the carry case on you and a drying cup/dehumidifier. Completely in the canal hearing aids that fit securely will be the best defence if you need to wear your hearing aids for certain activities such as cycling and running. They should not to be worn for combat or contact sports.
Keep your ears and hearing aids clean.
If you are swimming or doing other wet activities, make sure that your ears are completely dry before putting your hearing aids back in. Otherwise, you run the risk of trapping dirty water in your ear which can lead to an ear infection. Make sure keep up your daily cleaning routine on your hearing aids during your trip. You don’t want to have them stop working because of an avoidable excess wax build-up.
After a big trip.
Get your hearing aids professionally cleaned. If you've been around water/sand/dust/heat, consider taking your hearing aids to your hearing care professional for some special care. In other words: have a professional check them over and clean them for you. If there’s sand or water damage present, they’ll know what to do.
Conclusion:
Travelling with a hearing loss and hearing aids does require some thought and a little extra preparation but follow the above tips and you can minimise the impact it has on the enjoyment of your holidays.
What tips and advice can you give to help people travelling with hearing aids?