Flying with hearing aids

People often worry about how having a hearing aid will affect their lifestyle, from everyday activities like showering or shopping to those which occur less frequently such as holidays. Flying with a hearing aid is far easier than it may seem, but being prepared ahead of time will make everything go more smoothly.

Pack thoughtfully

Make sure you have plenty of extra batteries, especially if you're heading to a more remote or exotic destination.  While hearing aid batteries are widely available worldwide you may struggle to find them in some destinations.  You may also find they're of poorer quality or a lot more expensive overseas.  Far better to spend your money on souvenirs and meals out rather than on overpriced batteries for your hearing aids!  Bring all of your accessories and any instruction manuals, especially if you've only been using your hearing aids for a short period of time.  It's generally best to carry accessories and batteries in your hand luggage but discuss this with airline staff at check-in.

Security

Given what expensive and complex pieces of equipment hearing aids are users often worry about how their hearing aid may interfere with airport security screening.  It's a good idea to alert security officers conducting screening at the airport that you have a hearing aid.   In Australia you may wear your hearing aid during screening, with any extra screening being conducted as needed.  For instance, security staff may use a handheld metal scanner if your hearing aid has set off the metal detector.  Different countries have different regulations so it's a good idea to research what the rules are around security screening for hearing aid users in any country you visit.  If you don't speak the local language see if you can get a pre-printed card explaining your need to wear your hearing aids.  This way you can smooth over any potential concerns or questions.

Hearing aids will not be affected by metal detectors or handheld screening equipment.  Some users find they get some interference from other electronic equipment in the screening or security area, however it's best to try and keep your hearing aids on so you can communicate with the security staff.  

The flight itself

While most other electronic devices need to be turned off at certain times or even throughout the entire flight, your hearing aids can usually remain on.  Most hearing aids do not interfere with important signals or electronic messages in the plane and so will not affect the safety of the flight.  Some newer models may need to be turned off; however, you can obtain information about this from either your user manual or your hearing professional.  Flights can be noisy, so some people choose to reduce their volume to accommodate this increased noise.  If your ears become blocked with changes in altitude you can use the same measures that you would have used before to improve your hearing and comfort, such as sucking on a boiled sweet or blowing your nose while holding your nostrils closed.

Discuss any imminent flight plans with your audiologist so that they can pass on information specific to your hearing aids and your specific situation.