The Best Hearing Aid Accessories for Travelling
Planning for a trip can be exciting, but if you wear hearing aids, there’s often an added layer of anxiety around making sure you have everything you need to stay connected and comfortable throughout your journey. From navigating noisy airports to ensuring your hearing aids stay charged on long flights, having the right hearing aid accessories is crucial for a stress-free travel experience. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential accessories for hearing aids that will ensure you can enjoy your travels without worrying about your hearing devices.
The Importance of Being Prepared
Challenges of Travelling with Hearing Aids
Travelling can present unique challenges for individuals who wear hearing aids. Changing climates, long flights, and different noise levels can all affect your hearing aids’ performance. Humid or wet environments may cause moisture buildup, while high-altitude flights can alter pressure levels and affect sound quality. Additionally, busy and noisy environments like airports, train stations, or tourist hotspots can make it harder to hear clearly, adding stress to your journey.
To avoid potential disruptions, it’s important to plan ahead and pack the right hearing accessories. Ensuring you have all the essentials with you can mean the difference between a smooth trip and one filled with frustration. Preparation is key to making your travels more comfortable and enjoyable.
Benefits of Travel-Friendly Hearing Aid Accessories
Specific accessories for hearing aids are designed to enhance convenience, comfort, and hearing aid performance during travel. For example, portable chargers ensure your devices stay powered, while protective cases safeguard your hearing aids from potential damage. Dehumidifiers help keep your hearing aids dry, and noise-cancelling accessories improve sound quality in noisy environments. By investing in these accessories, you’ll be better prepared for the various challenges that may arise during your trip.
Essential Travel Accessories for Hearing Aids
When packing for your next adventure, consider these essential hearing aid accessories to ensure your devices function optimally throughout your trip.
Portable Hearing Aid Chargers
The last thing you want during a long journey is for your hearing aids to run out of power. Portable chargers are a must-have for any traveller who wears rechargeable hearing aids. These chargers allow you to recharge your devices on the go, ensuring they remain powered up during long flights or extended periods away from electrical outlets.
When choosing a portable charger, consider the battery life and charging speed. Some models can hold multiple charges in a single pack, which is useful for longer trips. Look for chargers that are lightweight, compact, and compatible with your specific hearing aid model to maximize convenience.
Protective Storage Cases
Protecting your hearing aids during travel is essential, especially when they are packed in luggage or carried in crowded areas. A sturdy, protective storage case can help prevent damage from accidental drops, moisture, or pressure.
When selecting a storage case, look for features such as waterproofing, shock resistance, and a compact size that fits easily in your carry-on. Some cases also come with built-in dehumidifiers or anti-moisture features to further protect your hearing aids in humid or wet climates.
Dehumidifiers and Drying Kits
Humidity and moisture can significantly impact the performance of your hearing aids, especially in tropical destinations or during rainy seasons. Portable dehumidifiers and drying kits are small, easy-to-use devices that help keep your hearing aids dry, extending their lifespan and maintaining their functionality.
Many travel-friendly drying kits come in compact designs that fit easily into your luggage. These kits typically include a drying chamber that removes moisture overnight, ensuring your hearing aids are ready to perform the next day. Having a drying kit on hand is particularly important if you’re travelling to a location with high humidity or spending time near water.
Cleaning Tools and Kits
Maintaining clean hearing aids is important at any time, but it becomes even more essential while travelling. Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate more easily when you’re on the go, affecting sound quality and comfort. Carrying a compact cleaning kit will help you keep your hearing aids in top condition throughout your trip.
A good travel cleaning kit should include a brush, wax pick, and microfiber cloth to gently clean your hearing aids without damaging them. Regular cleaning will prevent buildup from clogging the devices and ensure that they function optimally throughout your travels.
Accessories for Enhancing Travel
Travel Adapters and Plug Converters
If you’re travelling internationally, don’t forget to pack travel adapters or plug converters to charge your hearing aids. Different countries use different plug types, and being caught without the correct adapter could leave you unable to charge your devices.
Universal adapters are a great solution, as they are designed to work with multiple plug types, ensuring you’re prepared no matter where you’re headed. When purchasing an adapter, check that it supports your charger’s voltage and is compatible with the countries on your itinerary.
Connectivity Accessories for Staying Connected
Bluetooth Connectivity and Remote Microphones
Travelling can sometimes make communication more difficult, especially in crowded or noisy areas. The Bluetooth connectivity of many hearing aids and the use of remote microphones are two excellent ways to stay connected and enhance your listening experience.
Bluetooth allows you to connect your hearing aids to smartphones, tablets, or in-flight entertainment systems. The sound from the devices streams directly into your hearing aids, enhancing your viewing experience. Remote microphones are perfect for in-person events, as you can place them near a speaker or conversation partner to amplify their voice directly to your hearing aids, making it easier to hear in noisy settings.
Airplane Mode and Wireless Transmission Accessories
Many wireless hearing aids have an airplane mode feature that allows you to disable Bluetooth and wireless connectivity during flights in compliance with airline regulations. It’s important to understand how to activate airplane mode on your hearing aids before your trip.
Some airlines also offer in-flight entertainment systems that can connect to Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, making it easier to enjoy movies and music during the flight. Ensure you have any necessary wireless transmission accessories packed to make the most of your in-flight experience.
Additional Tips for Travelling with Hearing Aids
Creating a Travel Checklist
A well-organized travel checklist can help ensure you don’t forget any important accessories or tools. Essential items for your checklist might include:
- Portable charger
- Protective case
- Cleaning kit
- Dehumidifier or drying kit
- Travel adapter
- Extra batteries or charging cables
Consider downloading or printing a checklist to refer to as you pack, making sure you’re fully prepared for your trip.
Preparing for Security Checks and Air Travel
When passing through airport security, it’s important to know that you do not need to remove your hearing aids. They are generally safe to wear during security scans, but it’s a good idea to inform TSA agents that you’re wearing them, especially if you’re carrying extra accessories or batteries.
Additionally, be mindful of how pressure changes during flights can affect your hearing aids. Some travellers experience a slight decrease in hearing aid performance during takeoff and landing due to pressure changes, so adjusting the volume on your devices or using noise-cancelling accessories can help.
How to Choose the Right Travel Accessories
Consider Your Destination and Activities
When selecting hearing aid accessories for travel, consider the type of trip you’re planning and the activities you’ll be doing. For example, if you’re heading to a beach destination, a dehumidifier will be crucial for combating moisture. For city tours or long flights, noise-cancelling accessories and portable chargers are more important.
Think about the environments you’ll encounter and tailor your accessory choices to match your specific needs.
Balancing Quality and Portability
While you want high-quality accessories that will perform well, you also need to prioritize portability when travelling. Choose lightweight and compact accessories that won’t take up too much space in your luggage, but make sure they still offer the functionality and protection your hearing aids require.
Look for travel-friendly versions of your essential tools to strike the perfect balance between quality and convenience.
Enjoy Stress-Free Travel with the Right Hearing Aid Accessories
With the right preparation and accessories, travelling with hearing aids can be seamless and enjoyable. By investing in portable chargers, protective cases, noise-cancelling accessories, and more, you can ensure your hearing aids perform at their best throughout your journey.
Before you go away, evaluate your current accessories and consider upgrading to travel-friendly options. With the proper hearing aid accessories, you can confidently explore the world without worrying about your hearing aids.
At Bravo Hearing, we offer a wide selection of accessories to keep your hearing aids protected, powered, and performing at their best, no matter where you’re headed. Contact us today to learn more and find the perfect accessories for your next trip.