Hearing aids can become a crucial part of your daily routine at home. Making it possible to listen to others in your home and to remain aware of your surroundings is likely something you will want to do on a daily basis. You might also come to rely on your hearing aids for doing errands and going out on daily shopping runs. The casual interactions you have with those in your community can be assisted through hearing aids, relieving the anxiety that can come with hearing loss.
In addition to these parts of your regular routine, you might be eager to take advantage of your hearing aids while traveling. Indeed, your aids can transform your travels from a worrisome, confusing, or difficult journey into a comfortable and rewarding one. There are a few tips you should keep in mind when you plan to take your hearing aids on the road. Although most hearing aids will be self-explanatory while you’re out and about, a few pointers can assure that you make the most of your aids while traveling.
Battery Maintenance
If your hearing aids use batteries that need replacement, take a moment to set up a plan for making regular changes. If you have a sense of how long your hearing aid batteries will last during normal life, you would do well to bring plenty more hearing aids with you on the road. You might find yourself wearing them more often than usual, and you don’t want to find yourself in the annoying situation of derailing from travel plans to seek out fresh batteries. If your aids have rechargeable batteries, you should be able to plug in your charging station each night for continued use. If you are planning to go camping or elsewhere that power might be difficult to find, you can buy a portable charging dock that comes with an additional battery pack built in. Take care to remain aware of your battery levels so that you don’t get caught without the power you need.
Audio Guides at Attractions
When you go to museums or other attractions, many of them will offer audio guides to inform your visit. These guides tend to be sent through headphones, and those headphones might be difficult to use with your aids. You might want to call ahead to these attractions to find out if they have services particularly designed for visitors who are hard of hearing. They might have an app for your smartphone or an external device that can connect with your hearing aids through Bluetooth streaming or telecoil technology. If you find that you need further assistance, the visitor’s center should be able to point you toward the full range of accommodations for those who wear hearing aids.
Care and Protection
When you are traveling, you might be more likely to encounter rain, harsh weather, or other conditions that might spray moisture onto your aids. Do your best to avoid wearing your aids in these situations, but if you find yourself caught in the rain, don’t distress. Drying your hearing aids with a clean, dry cloth can do quite well, and many people have found success with hearing aid dryers or placing hearing aids in a sealed bag of dry rice overnight.
Take care to avoid extreme heat, as well. A parked car in the sun can reach temperatures that can even cause damage to your hearing aids, so you would do best to bring them into a hotel room or even to keep them in a purse or other bag rather than the hot car. If you accidentally break or damage your aids, you might be able to find a hearing health professional on the road that can offer some assistance. If not, you can rest assured that you can contact us for help upon your return.
If we can fix the aids in-house, we will be happy to do so. If the repair requires more advanced assistance, we can send out your aids to a licensed repair technician or the manufacturer. With these tips in mind, you should be in great shape to enjoy your hearing aids while you are traveling. Enjoy your trip!
