Come February each year, it can feel like winter may never come to an end in Portland. This time of year, it’s more appealing than ever to book a trip out of town for a few days in the sunshine. If you’re one of the many people who wears hearing aids in Portland, it’s important to remember that caring for your devices should remain a priority even during your vacation.
If you suffer from hearing loss in Portland, follow these helpful travel tips to keep your hearing aids safe and your next vacation stress-free.
Tip #1: Invest in a waterproof case. When you’re in an unfamiliar place, your risk of making a careless mistake increases. Keep your hearing aids, accessories and batteries safe by storing them in a waterproof case. This is especially important if you’re staying somewhere with a pool, lake, river or ocean in close proximity, as you will need to remove your hearing aids to enjoy time in the water.
Tip #2: Pack plenty of backup batteries and tubing. The last thing you want to do on your vacation is spend time hunting for a store where you can buy backup batteries or hearing aid parts. Instead, stock up on what you need before you leave Portland. Hearing aids can act differently in different climates, so bring even more spares than what you think you’ll need. Pack batteries and parts in more than one place in your luggage, in case some of them are lost, misplaced or damaged during travel.
Tip #3: Designate a home away from home for your hearing aids. It’s important to keep your hearing aids in a safe, familiar place at home, but it’s even more vital when you’re traveling. Living out of a suitcase can be a little disorganized, and you never want to risk losing, misplacing or damaging your hearing aids because you stored them in the wrong place. As soon as you get to your hotel destination, find a safe, secure place and ensure your hearing aids go there every single night.
Tip #4: Keep your hearing aids in your ears at airport security. TSA recommends keeping your hearing aids in as you go through the airport’s security checkpoint. This is very important, as it’s a highly likely place to lose or damage your hearing aids, putting a damper on your entire vacation. Keep your devices in your ears, and make sure to be clear that you are wearing hearing aids when you speak with a TSA agent. This will ensure you get through security and on your way without a hassle.
Tip #5: Pack your devices, accessories and batteries in your carry-on. Hearing aids, batteries and electronic components should never go in a checked bag when you travel. Along with the risk of losing your luggage, you also risk damaging parts when they go through the strong scanners reserved specifically for checked baggage. The air under the place can also vary greatly in temperature, rendering your batteries unusable upon landing. Pack extra batteries in a few different carry-on bags to ensure you have plenty on hand no matter what.
