Traveling With Hearing Aids? Tips & Tricks
With weather getting warm, our thoughts turn to vacations and getaways. Whether you’re planning a few weeks overseas, a trip across the country, a weekend road trip, or maybe you’re finally taking that cruise, traveling with your hearing aids doesn’t have to be a hassle. Just a little bit of advance planning will keep your devices in tip-top shape and you won’t miss a thing during your travels.
Before leaving on your trip, read through the following list – and give us a call if you have any questions.
Traveling With Hearing aids Checklist
Once you’ve packed all your other items like clothes and toiletries, it’s time to put together your hearing aid kit. Make sure you include the following items
Hearing Aid Case – Protection & Portability
Prevents Damage
A sturdy case protects your hearing aids from drops, dust, and dirt when not in use.
Keeps Them Organized
Avoid misplacing small hearing aids by keeping them safely stored in one place.
Ideal for Travel
Travel cases often include compartments for batteries, cleaning tools, or chargers, making on-the-go use easier.
Avoid Unexpected Shutoff
Hearing aids can stop working suddenly when batteries die. Having extras on hand means you're never caught off guard.
Convenience on the Go
If you're out shopping, at work, or traveling, dead batteries without a backup can leave you without hearing for hours.
Essential for Emergencies
In situations where communication is critical—like medical visits or weather emergencies—you don’t want to be without your hearing.
Hearing Aid Cleaning Kit
Daily maintenance is key to keeping your hearing aids working their best. A cleaning kit includes everything you need—brushes, picks, and cloths—to remove earwax, oils, and dust. Regular cleaning prevents damage to sensitive components, reduces the risk of costly repairs, and ensures clear, high-quality sound.
Domes: Comfort and Sound Quality
Domes are the soft tips that sit in your ear canal and play a big role in how your hearing aids feel and perform. Choosing the right size and shape helps provide a secure, comfortable fit while also improving sound quality and minimizing feedback. Because domes can harden or become clogged over time, we recommend replacing them regularly for the best performance.
Don’t forget any other accessories you use each day and can’t live without!
Traveling by plane, by car, by train
Following are some more specific tips on using your hearing aids while traveling, depending on your mode of travel. These can really help you take advantage of your device’s features while out and about, allowing you to focus on what’s important – the sounds around you.
- Air travel: You can go ahead and leave your hearing aids in when you go through security, unless otherwise instructed by airport staff. Additionally, most airports around the country feature loop systems that work with the telecoil in your hearing aid that allow you to hear important announcements more clearly. (If you aren’t sure if you have a telecoil, just ask us.) You can also sign up for text messages with your airline and they will send alerts for gate changes and delays. Also, keep your hearing aids in on the plane so you’re always aware of your surroundings.
- Road travel: Remember to wear your hearing aids while driving, as well as when you’re a passenger. Keeping the windows up helps minimize outside noise, which also helps minimize noise inside your vehicle. Further, and this goes for anyone, keep noisy distractions to a minimum. Loud music, radio, or passengers can keep you from focusing on the task at hand – driving and arriving safely.
- Train or subway: Public transportation, like subway, bus, or train, doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This is another place where you can take advantage of loop systems. You can also simplify your trip by planning ahead. Check out the system online, map out your route, and buy tickets online so you can set out on your journey feeling confident and ready!
Once you get there
When making a hotel or room reservation, you can request a hearing-accessible room if your needs require. By law, most hotels are required to set aside a certain number of rooms outfitted with visual notification devices (for fire and emergency alarms), telephone amplifiers, and TDDs. We advise calling ahead if you want to request these services.
Don’t forget to power up
All packed and tickets in hand? Remember, hearing loss never has to hold you back from enjoying the sounds of spring and summer. No matter where you choose to travel this season, you can keep your hearing aids charged up and ready to go when you are.
Oticon’s new SmartCharger is small, portable, and designed specifically for travel. It gives you three full charges without an outlet. And, the charging case keeps your Oticon More™ devices dry and protected. Ask us how to order!
Hearing Care is Health Care™
Before you go, we wanted to talk about why we believe that hearing care is health care. Our practice proudly offers Oticon BrainHearingTM technology, because it’s designed to support the brain’s role in making sense of sound. What this means for you is that your brain gets the quality sound information it needs to stay healthy.
Oticon’s hearing aid solutions help your brain work the way it’s intended.
Want to find out more? Schedule an appointment,