Health Services - Senior Citizen's Guide

Health
| Article
Travel Tips for People with
Hearing Loss
According to the Better Hearing Institute, 1 in 6 baby
boomers (14.6%) are experiencing hearing loss, and
as boomers continue to reach retirement age, more
and more will be looking to spend their well-deserved
retirement days traveling.
Consider the following tips to help those experiencing
hearing loss better enjoy their travels.
• Don’t miss important announcements. Lowquality
PA systems can make airport and station
announcements difficult to hear and understand.
Be sure to set a vibrating alert on your
smartphone or watch with your departure time,
and check video monitors frequently for updates.
• Texting isn’t just for teens. Airports, train
stations, and public transportation are places with
significant background noise, making it difficult
to hear on the phone. Use text messaging to
coordinate and communicate easily with drivers
and traveling companions.
• Utilize looping technology when in a looped facility.
The majority of today’s hearing aids are equipped
with telecoils. This technology allows the user
to hear with clarity in noisy public spaces. Loop
America provides a full list of looped facilities in
the U.S.
• Book hearing accessible accommodations. Many
hotels will provide accommodations such as closed
caption TVs and some are now providing looping
in rooms and lobbies.
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