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Winter holiday season is just around the corner and that travel bug is itching. Maybe you’re planning to travel for to a romantic foreign city like Paris or Vienna or are taking the leap towards a more adventurous trip hiking up mountains or on snorkeling on an island, prepping for such big trips can be stressful in of itself. Traveling with hearing loss poses other barriers. If you are a person with hearing loss and are intending to travel soon, there are information and tools out there to make your trip stress and worry-free.
A New Travel App
Traveling with hearing loss or a disability can be quite challenging. Many travel guides, books or online, don’t particularly cater to people facing hearing loss and they rarely highlight accessibility tips while traveling as well. A 23-year-old Wisconsin man with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair has recently created an app he hopes will make traveling more accessible for those with disabilities.
During his few weeks through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Reciprocal Exchange in Swaziland, Gabriel Schlieve developed the Rebel Traveler’s Guide to the World app so that traveling becomes accessible for everyone. Currently the app provides accessibility information on Eau Claire, the Twin Cities, and Chicago to travelers with disabilities.
As Schlieve states, “The point of this app is not just for the physically disabled, it’s also for people who have vision issues, who are hearing impaired, people who have bad knees or backs, whatever — but would like to travel and would like to know some tips.” Schlieve and his team are currently collecting more data to add more accessibility information on other cities as well as incorporate GPS capability onto the app in the near future.
Tips for Traveling with Hearing Loss
If you have travel plans that are not covered by Schlieve’s newly developed app, these following travel tips will be helpful in making your holiday a memorable one.
Research, research, research
Are you planning on staying in a hotel during your travels? Make sure that the hotel you choose provides auxiliary aids and phones that are compatible with your hearing aids. Under the Americans with Disabilities (ADA), hotels must be accessible to individuals with hearing loss. This applies for not only hotels, but also motels, inns, and other lodging accommodations.
Sign up for travel notifications
Most airline companies have downloadable apps for the smartphone as well as email and text notifications for flight changes, delays, and cancellations. Be sure to sign up for these as hearing announcements could be a challenge while in the terminal. This will mitigate any potential problems when it comes to your flight.
Pack your hearing aid and its accessories
If you use a hearing instrument, be sure to pack it and all of its accessories including batteries, cleaning tools, extra tubing, remotes, chargers, and cases. If you’re planning on traveling internationally, you may need to purchase a voltage converter prior to vacationing. To reduce the risk of loss or damage, be sure to pack these items in your carry-on.
Be your own advocate
Communication is key. After you identify all your needs for a smooth vacation, be sure to communicate these needs with those around you, starting with airport personnel, your airplane seatmate, hotel staff, or tour guides. Know that you are not required to take off your hearing device when passing through airport security. TSA does recommend you to inform the security officer on site about your hearing equipment prior to being screened.
New Leaf Hearing Clinic
Do you struggle with hearing? Do you have hearing loss and your hearing device is not working properly? If you answered yes to these questions, be sure to stop by New Leaf Hearing Clinic to get your hearing tested or fitted with a new hearing device. Being able to hear clearly or having the up to date hearing instruments will make your life better. You’ll be amazed at the difference hearing aids will make in your life, improving your relationships, keeping you safe, helping you hear sounds you didn’t even know you were missing, and making travel easy! Visit us today and start your journey to clear hearing today!