Traveling with hearing aids can present unique challenges, but with the right preparation and knowledge, it can be a smooth and enjoyable experience. In this guide, we bring you expert travel tips from Laurie Osterman, a seasoned traveler and hearing aid user. Laurie, known for her popular YouTube channel where she shares travel advice gleaned from years of experience as a pilot’s wife, offers invaluable insights for those navigating airports, airplanes, and vacations with hearing aids.
Originally featured on the GN ReSound Blog, Laurie’s advice aims to boost your confidence and ensure your hearing aids enhance, rather than hinder, your travel adventures. Whether you’re a first-time flyer or a frequent globetrotter, these Travel Tips By Laurie will help you prepare for your next journey with ease.
Essential Packing Tips for Hearing Aid Travel
Tip #1: Declare Hearing Impairment When Booking Flights
When purchasing airline tickets, consider indicating that you are hearing impaired. While you may not always require special assistance, this notification can be beneficial. Airlines can then be aware of your needs, potentially offering you an aisle seat or seating near the front of the plane, if available. While some airlines might charge extra for these preferred seats, being closer to the front can be helpful if you rely on lip-reading for communication during travel disruptions or announcements.
Tip #2: Carry Hearing Aid Supplies in Your Personal Item
Hearing aid travel essentials packed in a backpack, a travel tip by Laurie Osterman
Always pack your essential hearing aid supplies in your personal item bag. This includes batteries, cleaning tools, and for rechargeable devices, your charging case and cords. A personal item, like a backpack or briefcase, fits under the seat in front of you, ensuring your supplies are easily accessible and safe, even if overhead luggage space is limited or your checked baggage is delayed.
For those with rechargeable hearing aids, it’s crucial to keep the charging case in your carry-on or personal item. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations prohibit lithium batteries in checked luggage. Laurie recommends using a tech organizer to keep your charger and cords neatly arranged and readily available throughout your travels.
Tip #3: No Need to Remove Hearing Aids During Airport Security
Navigating airport security can be stressful, but rest assured, you do not need to remove your hearing aids at any point during the screening process. You can keep your hearing aids in place as you go through security checkpoints. This simplifies the process and ensures you maintain optimal hearing throughout the airport.
Tip #4: Skip Earrings While Traveling, Especially with Masks
Laurie advises against wearing earrings while traveling, particularly when also wearing a mask. Earrings can easily get tangled with mask straps and hearing aids, potentially leading to them being misplaced or lost when you remove your mask. To minimize the risk of losing small items, it’s best to leave earrings at home during your travels.
Tip #5: Leverage Your Hearing Aid Phone App
Hearing aid travel essentials packed in a backpack, a travel tip by Laurie Osterman
Modern hearing aids often come with smartphone apps that offer incredible control and customization. If your hearing aids, like Laurie’s ReSound devices, have app compatibility, utilize it to enhance your hearing experience while traveling. These apps often allow you to adjust noise reduction, filter background sounds, and focus on speech, which is invaluable in noisy environments like restaurants, shows, or crowded tourist spots. Whether you’re on a cruise ship or at a bustling market, your hearing aid app can help you hear conversations and enjoy your surroundings more fully.
Tip #6: Download Entertainment Before Your Flight
While some airplanes offer seat-back entertainment systems, access can be limited or require wired headphones. To ensure you have entertainment options, download movies, shows, or videos from services like Netflix or YouTube directly to your phone or tablet 24-36 hours before your flight. This way, you can enjoy your downloaded content even in airplane mode, regardless of the airplane’s entertainment system.
Tip #7: Master Your Airline’s App for Flight Updates
Airline apps are essential travel tools, particularly for those with hearing impairments. Your airline’s app provides real-time flight information, including gate change alerts, which can be easily missed if relying solely on airport announcements. The app also shows baggage carousel information upon arrival. Some airline apps even host in-flight entertainment. Familiarizing yourself with your airline’s app ensures you stay informed and navigate your journey smoothly.
Tip #8: Protect Hearing Aids from Water at the Pool or Beach
Hearing aid travel essentials packed in a backpack, a travel tip by Laurie Osterman
When enjoying water activities at the pool or beach, protect your hearing aids from water and moisture. Store them in a sealed plastic bag and then place that bag inside a splash-proof or water-resistant bag for extra protection. A larger waterproof bag can also hold other essentials, keeping everything together and preventing loss.
Laurie also shares a personal concern about losing her rechargeable hearing aid charger while traveling. Her audiologist recommends that if you lose your charger while away, immediately contact them via email. They can then arrange for a replacement to be ready for you upon your return home.
Bonus Travel Tips for Hearing Aid Users
Bonus Tip #1: Pack a Valet Tray for Nighttime Storage
For safe and convenient nighttime storage of your hearing aids, pack a flat-folding valet tray. These trays are lightweight, come in various colors, and help keep your hearing aids and supplies organized on a hotel nightstand. A valet tray also offers protection from accidental spills if you keep water by your bedside.
Bonus Tip #2: Use a Peanut Butter Lid as a Makeshift Tray
A peanut butter lid can serve as an impromptu protective tray for your hearing aids and accessories while traveling. The lid’s distinct color helps it stand out against typical hotel countertop surfaces, reducing the chance of forgetting your hearing aids and providing a barrier against potential water spills on the nightstand.
Bonus Tip #3: Utilize a Brightly Colored Fabric Scrap
If you don’t have a valet tray or a peanut butter lid, a simple piece of brightly colored fabric can also work. Use it as a protective surface to place your hearing aids on at night. Choosing a bright color ensures it’s easily visible and doesn’t blend in with hotel surfaces, helping prevent you from leaving your hearing aids behind.
By following these travel tips by Laurie, you can confidently navigate your travels with hearing aids, ensuring you don’t miss out on any of the sounds of your adventures. For more travel insights and advice, be sure to visit Laurie’s YouTube channel.
