Holiday Travel Tips for People with Hearing Loss

For Immediate Release – December 17, 2012

 

Travel Tips for People with Hearing Loss    

 

Pittsburgh, PA – During the holiday season and winter months, many boomers and seniors will travel to visit with friends and family or head to warmer destinations to escape the cold days of winter. While travel is usually quite enjoyable, communication challenges can directly impact one’s experience during family visits and vacations.

 

According to the Better Hearing Institute, 1 in 6 baby boomers (14.6%) are experiencing hearing loss, and as boomers continue to reach retirement age, more and more will be looking to spend their well-deserved retirement days traveling.   

 

The AudigyCertified^TM hearing care professionals of HearWell Center are offering the following tips to help those experiencing hearing loss better enjoy their travels.

 

• Don’t miss important announcements. Low-quality PA systems can make airport and station announcements difficult to hear and understand. Be sure to set a vibrating alert on your smartphone or watch with your departure time, and check video monitors frequently for updates. You can also ask a fellow traveler sitting nearby to keep you posted on important announcements and boarding instructions.

• Texting isn’t just for teens. Airports, train stations, and public transportation are places with significant background noise, making it difficult to hear on the phone. Use text messaging to coordinate and communicate easily with drivers and traveling companions. 
• Leave in hearing aids through security checkpoints.  The TSA recommends leaving hearing aid devices in place when going through airport screening. Be sure to ask the security officer for assistance or to repeat instructions if needed. Visit the TSA’s website for information about the screening process for people with hearing loss and assistive hearing technology.

• Utilize looping technology when in a looped facility. The majority of today’s hearing aids are equipped with telecoils. When turned on in a looped facility with the push of a button, the technology allows the user to hear with clarity in noisy public spaces. Loop America provides a full list of looped facilities in the U.S.
• Book hearing accessible accommodations. Many hotels will provide accommodations such as closed caption TVs. Some hotels are now providing looping in rooms and lobbies. 

• Pack and plan accordingly. A vibrating alarm clock, extra hearing aid batteries, cleaning brush, and protective waterproof case for your aids are great items to pack for travel. Additionally, when traveling to a hot and humid location, you will want to bring along a small drying kit to protect your hearing aids from moisture.      

 

If you do encounter a problem with your hearing technology while traveling, or are in need of supplies, the network of AudigyCertified hearing care professionals throughout the U.S. can help. For more information or to find an AudigyCertified hearing care professional near you, please call 1.800.Hearing or visit www.agxhearing.com.                        

 

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Press Contact:

Suzanne Yoder, Au.D. 412 271-3002, DrYoder@hearwellcenter.com

 

 

About HearWell Center

HearWell Center, located in Forest Hills, PA, provides the highest standard of care to patients with, or at high risk to hearing and vestibular disorders, in a respectful, friendly and professional environment. Audiologist Dr. Yoder maximizes the patient experience and enhances quality of life through individual-based audiology services including hearing tests, diagnostics, education, counseling, treatments, rehabilitation and devices (such as hearing aids, hearing protection assistive devices and alerting devices).

 

About Audigy Group

Audigy Group is a Member-driven organization established in 2004 to assist private, independent hearing care professionals in consistently delivering the highest quality hearing care to their communities. Audigy Group’s membership includes some of the nation’s leading audiologists—innovators in both clinical care and in defining the standards of service with the hearing care industry. www.agxhearing.com/about-audigy

 

About Hearing Loss

Please explore this infographic on Hearing Loss in America. It’s full of information on hearing loss, how it occurs, how it affects our lives, and—more importantly—how it can be effectively treated with the right combination of certified provider, treatment plan, and hearing device technology. www.hearingloss.com/infographic