Flying With Hearing Aids – What You Need to Know

Anyone who has ever flown on a plane knows the strenuous effect air travel can have on your ears. The rapid change in altitude affects everyone differently, but it can be a real problem for those already experiencing problems with their ears.

Travel comes with various auditory pitfalls, from booming airplane engines to ear infections. While traveling with hearing aids can be inconvenient, protecting your hearing is imperative.

Hearing and Travel

The experience of traveling is usually an exciting one, but if it damages your hearing, it can be a terrible experience. There are a few risks that travelers should be aware of.

It is still extremely noisy inside planes despite years of technological progress. Between 80 and 100 decibels can be heard for as long as 10 hours. As a point of reference, the National Institute for Occupational Health recommends exposing your ears to loud noises for no more than four hours. Most air travels breach that limit, putting passengers at risk of hearing damage.

Another issue is heightened tinnitus caused by changes in pressure or increasing the volume of headphones to overcome cabin noise. This can all add up to an unpleasant experience for anyone’s ears.

Travel can come with some auditory dangers, but we can do things to mitigate them. Avoid turning the volume up too high on the plane or train by using noise-canceling earphones can help you avoid damaging your ears while you travel.

Can Hearing Aid Batteries Go in Checked Luggage?

TSA may screen additional items in carry-on bags if you pack hearing aids or a backup set. You’ll likely wear your hearing aids and bring your smartphone onto the plane, so extra batteries should be the primary concern.

You are allowed to bring dry alkaline batteries, dry rechargeable batteries, and lithium-ion batteries in your checked bag and carry-on on airplanes. However, you cannot bring lithium-ion battery spares in your checked bag. So, if you plan on getting lithium-ion spares on the plane, make sure that they are in your carry-on baggage.

Using Your Hearing Aid on a Flight

Hearing aids during flight travel is not subject to the standard rules applicable to electronic devices like phones or laptops. This means that you can use your hearing aids during takeoff and landing without running into any issues.

For hearing aids with FM receivers, it’s a good idea to turn them off during sensitive times, like take-off and landing, because they can interfere with airplane systems in the same way that mobile phone signals can.

In addition, make sure to wear your hearing aids on board and pay attention to the safety instructions. If your device has a noise reduction feature, make sure to use it to reduce background noise from the engines, and make the volume higher to hear the instructions.

You can also read through the information sheets provided by the airlines to avoid missing anything essential. After reading these, you can relax and watch a movie with your hearing aid. If you take them off, be sure to place them in your carry-on bag. This way, you will be sure to remember it when you leave the plane. Hearing aids and their accessories are some of the most lost items during air travel.

Things to Remember When Traveling with Your Hearing Aids

When you travel with hearing aids, you can alleviate some headaches by planning ahead and familiarizing yourself with a few tips. For starters, take advantage of crew members and ground staff for assistance.

There will be trained staff available to assist you with any questions or inquiries you may have. Be sure that you have a necessary charge for all of your devices before you depart.

Be sure to bring along the correct charger and a spare battery. If you live in a hot area, bringing a dehumidifier can also help prevent moisture from getting inside your hearing aids. Good storage options are also crucial.

It may also be essential to pack a bag for all your items and accessories. Having a wearing bag may also be an advantage. Other things are helpful to travelers, like vibrating alarm clocks that will wake you up in the morning. Most people fail to remember this.

Additionally, ask if induction loop assistance is available at museums or galleries when you visit. Most key attractions offer guides for those with hearing impairments, which can add tremendous value to your experience.

Most of all – Remember to Have Fun!

Traveling can be an uncomfortable and frustrating experience for those with hearing loss. It can be frustrating to lose your hearing aid, run out of battery on a long flight, or constantly be worried about your devices during a flight or vacation.

While there are things you can do to prevent hearing problems on holiday, there are also things you can do to avoid hearing problems at home while you’re away. By using your hearing aid appropriately and being proactive, you can make your travels easy on your ears, leaving you free to enjoy your vacation.

If you or a loved one is suffering from problems that might be hearing-related, it is crucial to address these as soon as possible. Simply scheduling a short hearing evaluation could be the difference between stopping your problems in their tracks or letting them worsen and fester over time.

If you live in the Las Vegas area, consider using Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for all your hearing-related needs. Locally based, we are the premier stop for all things hearing in Las Vegas.