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Travel can be a stressful experience for anyone. For someone with
a hearing loss, the difficulties of making reservations, hearing
airplane or train boarding announcements, and using regular telephones
can make travel especially stressful. We hope these suggestions
make travelling more enjoyable for you.
Making
reservations
Try to make advance reservations whenever possible. When making
reservations by phone, use an amplified telephone if at all possible.
Let the reservation agent know that you have a hearing loss. Repeat
the information so the agent can confirm your arrangements and
ask for written confirmation to be mailed or faxed to you.
If
the telephone is too difficult, you can make your travel arrangements
in person with a travel agent. Another strategy is to make your
own travel arrangements through the Internet. If you're comfortable
using a computer and have the time, you can shop for hotel and
airline information and make reservations while 'on-line.'
When
travelling
Don't panic if you find it nearly impossible to understand the
announcements at bus, train or airline terminals. Even people
with excellent hearing often find it difficult to understand public
announcements in these settings. (Wouldn't it be nice if people
who made public announcements had training in public speaking
so we could actually understand them?)
Airports,
bus and train terminals usually have displays of route numbers,
destinations and gate numbers throughout the terminal. Check the
posted information for gate and departure times. After boarding,
confirm with an attendant that you're on the correct flight or
train.
Public
telephones
More telephones with built-in amplifiers are available today in
places like train terminals and airports. Still, it's a good idea
to carry a portable amplifier so you can use any telephone. Most
public telephones are also hearing aid- compatible (for those who
have a telephone switch on their hearing aids).
Accommodations
With the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, more
hotels provide assistance to people with hearing loss. This assistance
may include in-room amplified telephones and alerting devices
for smoke and fire alarms. Hotel televisions may have built-in
captioning that will be activated. However, you may want to carry
your own assistive devices since you'll be more familiar with
them.
Your
hearing aids
Be sure to carry plenty of batteries; the batteries won't go bad
if kept in their original container and it will save you the trouble
of shopping for batteries while travelling. Bring along a dri-aid
kit or another durable container to protect your hearing aids.
Finally, consider carrying a spare hearing aid during your trip.
You'll have a back-up in case of loss or malfunction, plus carrying
a spare will relieve you of the anxious worry, "What will
I do if one of my aids stops working?"
We
hope these tips make travelling more enjoyable and bon voyage!
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