Airports can be very stressful environments for hearing aid users: there’s a large, loud crowd, and pre-flight announcements come on frequently. People experiencing hearing loss and hearing aid users often find all this noise frustrating and overwhelming, and that’s on top of the other typical stressors of travel.
Put Your Hearing Aid Accessories in Your Carry-On Bag
Make sure you pack extra batteries, ear molds and wax guards. If you use hearing aid accessories frequently, bring those, too. Be sure to keep all these items in your carry-on bag so you have them near you. You want to have everything you need in the event of a long layover or unexpected delay.
Security Screening
TSA has outlined some guidelines on travelling for the deaf and hard of hearing. They recommend you inform TSA officers that you are a hearing aid user and ask for help if you need assistance with the screening process. This will ensure that you get the clarity you need and that no missteps happen due to a miscommunication.
Furthermore, you do not need to take your hearing aids out when going through security. In fact, it’s better to keep your hearing aids in to reduce the risk of losing or damaging them. Your hearing aids will not set off the medical detector and they will not be damaged by the X-rays.
Know Your Rights
The Air Carrier Access Act, passed in 1986, has specific benefits to those with hearing loss:
- Information and reservations services must be accessible
- Information at airports must be accessible after self-identification as having hearing loss
- Television at airports must have captions turned on
- Communication on commercial aircraft must be effective after self-identification as having hearing loss
- Service animals are permitted
Remember that you have the right to indicate your need for special services when booking your flight, and you have the right to the same level of communication with airport staff as other passengers. Always advocate for yourself.
Have a Great Trip!
We hope this information gives you the confidence you need to travel smartly. Hearing aids present new challenges at the airport, but that doesn’t mean travelling is impossible.
Also, it’s a good idea to check in with your hearing healthcare professional before you leave to make sure your hearing aids are working and fitted properly. Call The Hearing & Speech Center to make an appointment.
