Train travel can be a great way to get to your destination while seeing the country. Whether you’re going from King Street Station to Woodinville or riding off on a seven-day cross-country trip, knowing how to accommodate for your hearing loss and keep your hearing aids safe and sound can help you enjoy your ride and decrease travel stress.
A couple of must-have hearing aid-accompanied train travel tips include:
- Bring your accessories
- Carry a personal bag
- Download a train app
- Inform workers of your hearing loss
Let’s look at each of these a little more closely.
Bring Your Accessories
Hearing aid accessories will vary depending on your needs but may include any combination of the following:
- Storage case. Bringing a hearing aid-specific storage case is essential to protecting your devices on a long journey. If you plan on sleeping or taking a break from your devices, place them in a case to ensure they don’t wind up damaged or broken.
- Batteries. Hearing aid batteries can last anywhere from three to 22 days, but traveling with an extra set is always a good idea to prevent dead devices. If you have rechargeable hearing aids, don’t forget to bring the charging case and a backup portable battery in case the train doesn’t have plugs.
- Hearing aid covers. Hearing aid covers are always a good idea to keep on hand. Though you likely won’t be running through water on the train, the covers may come in handy at your destination.
Carry a Personal Bag
Carrying a small cross-body bag or waist pack can make it easier to carry your important devices around the train with you, helping to prevent loss or damage.
Download a Train App
Train apps will be able to provide you with live status updates on the train’s departure, updated time of arrival and stop information. Downloading an app is an excellent way to ensure you aren’t missing audio announcements from the train’s speaker system.
Inform Transit Workers of Your Hearing Loss
It is completely up to you to decide if you want to share information about your hearing loss with transit workers, but choosing to share the information may have some unexpected perks. Approximately 15% of U.S. adults have some amount of hearing loss. Due to the prevalence of the condition, most transit systems will have accommodations in place. With knowledge of your hearing loss, transit workers can inform you of trip information or seat you next to an information display screen, ensuring you don’t miss any announcements.
For more information on traveling with hearing loss, contact Hearing Advancement Center today.
