Your hearing aids are essential pieces of technology, and we know you want to protect them. Traveling is exciting, especially in the winter, when you might be traveling to visit loved ones or escaping the cold weather. However, traveling also presents challenges for hearing aid users, as it can involve complex listening situations, and hearing aids can easily get lost or damaged in the commotion of travel.
Tips for Packing
While packing for your trip, bring everything you will need for your hearing aids, and get extras! It’s better to have extra batteries, extra earmolds and an extra storage case than not have them at all at a critical moment. Don’t skip your hearing aid cleaning routine while on the road, and to that effect, bring your complete hearing aid cleaning kit. If you’re going somewhere wet or humid, you should also bring a drying kit or a hearing aid dehumidifier to prevent the buildup of moisture, which can cause significant damage to your hearing aids.
Plan on wearing your hearing aids while you’re on the road, so don’t pack them. The main reason for this is that you’ll need your best hearing ability while traveling—clear communication, safety and situational awareness being paramount—but also, your hearing aids could get squished or damaged in your suitcase.
If you regularly use hearing aid accessories, such as a remote control, lapel mics or lanyards, make sure to bring those, as well. In general, if something improves your hearing experience and you use it frequently, don’t do yourself the disservice of trying to go without it while you’re traveling.
Protecting Your Hearing Aids
You’ll want a hearing aid case for organization and peace of mind; if you need to take your hearing aids out for any reason, you know where to put them and find them later. For traveling, we recommend using a hard-shell case. These durable cases will absorb any impact on your hearing aids while they’re encased, should they be dropped or have something dropped on them. Hearing aids are small and fragile, so giving them durable protection is essential. Hard-shell cases are also better at keeping hearing aids dry in the event of moisture exposure.
To that end, be mindful of where and when you remove your hearing aids. Designate a place in your hotel room or space where you’re staying to keep your hearing aid gear, and put your hearing aids there every time you take them out. If you’re away from your lodgings and need to remove your hearing aids, put them straight into your case and keep the case on your person (e.g., in your purse or pocket). Do not just set them down anywhere, or they could get misplaced or damaged.
Be mindful of common hearing aid hazards: moisture, humidity, heat, sand, dust and oil, to name a few. Avoid these hazards whenever possible, and clean your hearing aids every day to remove any buildup of harmful substances.
If you have any questions about traveling safely with hearing aids and other tips for traveling with hearing loss, call Bangor Audiology. We want you to have a successful, enjoyable trip. And if your hearing aids do get damaged or lost while you’re traveling, call us for a repair appointment.