If you’re making travel plans for this spring or summer, you’re probably looking into booking a hotel room at your destination. But if you’re one of the 7.1% of adults ages 45 and older who uses a hearing aid (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you may need to do a little extra preparation to enjoy the experience. In this post, we review how to make the most of a hotel stay for those with hearing loss.
Research Accessibility Features Before Booking
Before you book your hotel, shop around a little. You can check the hotels’ websites or call them to ask about what accessibility features they offer, like:
- Whether their lobby is usually quiet and peaceful or loud and bustling.
- If they have closed captioning on their televisions.
- Whether there is a visual notification system for critical alerts, like their fire alarms.
- If they offer a kit with amenities for patrons with hearing loss, like a captioned or amplified phone and a shake-awake or sunlight alarm clock.
Bring Your Hearing Essentials
It’s important when you’re packing for your hotel stay that you bring your hearing technology and accessories, including your:
- Hearing aids, so you can hear and communicate well with everyone at your destination, from fellow travelers to hotel staff.
- Charging dock if you have rechargeable hearing aids.
- Extra batteries so you’re not stranded without your hearing ability.
- Hearing aid case to store your hearing aids in when you’re not using them.
- Cleaning kit with a soft, dry cloth, wax pick/wire loop and a soft brush.
- Dehumidifier, in case they get wet, or you’re staying somewhere humid.
- Adapter for your charger if you’re traveling abroad.
- Other assistive listening devices or accessories that you use.
Pack Your Own Alarm Clock & Phone
If your hotel doesn’t offer any sort of kit for people with hearing loss, consider bringing your own amenities like a shaking or lighted alarm clock, particularly if you’re traveling for business or will have scheduled activities to wake up for, and phone so you can talk to people both in and out of your hotel.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Tinnitus & Hearing Experts today.