Traveling with Kids with Hearing Loss

It is important to know that there are a lot of kids with hearing loss. Just in the United States, studies show that there are about 3 million kids with some form of hearing loss.  Raising a child with hearing loss is difficult so one can imagine how difficult traveling with a child with hearing loss can be very difficult to say the least. Being prepared is one of the best pieces of advice for sure.

Here are some tips which may help:

• Advance Notice is important. Do not just throw something on them on the spur of the moment. The world is confusing in many aspects to a child with hearing loss so explaining to them all aspects of the upcoming trip is very helpful, even discussing the mode of transportation too.
• If you are flying, you should notify the airlines- they can sometimes make some accommodations and even let neighboring seats aware of the situation. If your child has a cochlear implant you also may want to check with your manufacturer regarding going through certain security devices. TSA security and metal detectors should be fine, but do not put on conveyor belt where things are x rayed as this could be harmful to them
• Check to see if you have a cochlear implant if the company has loan kits in case something happens.
• For hearing aids make sure you have extra batteries and cleaning kits If they are rechargeable do not forget the the charger. Keep this is in your carryon bag too.
•  Dehumidifiers are good too if in humid environments to keep them working efficiently.
• If traveling to a foreign country where different languages are spoken, try to explain this in advance to your child.

In Summary let the airlines know in advance as they often provide special services to families of children with hearing disabilities such as early boarding and choice seating. In the unlikely event that you are separated from your child at some point, airline staff will be aware of their hearing loss and take measures to keep them safe.

These tips should help your vacation run as smoothly as possible and create memories to last a lifetime!