A holiday should be straightforward. The last thing you want is to be worrying about your hearing aids on the beach, at the airport, or in a noisy hotel restaurant.
The good news is that with a little preparation before you leave, your hearing aids should be the last thing on your mind once you are there. This guide covers everything: what to pack, what to do at security, how to protect your devices from heat and humidity, and what to check on your travel insurance before you go.
Before You Leave: Get a Check-Up
If you have not had your hearing aids serviced or checked recently, book an appointment before your trip. Your audiologist can make sure everything is working correctly, replace any worn components such as tubes or domes, and clean the devices properly. Starting your holiday with hearing aids in good condition reduces the chance of problems arising while you are away.
It is also worth asking your audiologist whether your specific devices have any particular vulnerabilities to heat, humidity, or water exposure, and what precautions they recommend. This is especially relevant if you are travelling somewhere hot and humid, or planning a beach holiday.
What to Pack
Forgetting something minor at home is an inconvenience. Forgetting something your hearing aids depend on can affect your entire trip. Finding the right replacement parts or battery size in an unfamiliar pharmacy abroad is a surprisingly frustrating experience, and not something you want to navigate on holiday.
Pack the following in your carry-on luggage, not your hold bag:
Batteries or your charger. If your aids use disposable batteries, pack at least twice what you think you will need. Hot weather can reduce battery life, and not every pharmacy abroad will stock the correct size. If your aids are rechargeable, pack the charger and a travel adapter suitable for your destination.
Cleaning kit. A small brush and soft cloth are enough. In warm climates, earwax consistency can change with the heat, which means you may need to clean your aids more frequently than at home.
Spare parts. Tubes, domes, and earmoulds can be damaged by sand, moisture, or general wear. Bring spares. Finding exact replacements abroad is rarely straightforward.
A protective case. Your hearing aids should be in it whenever they are not in your ears. A hard case with a secure seal protects against drops, moisture, sand, and dust.
A portable dehumidifier or drying box. These small devices draw moisture out of your hearing aids overnight. In humid climates, this matters more than it does at home, as moisture build-up inside hearing aids is one of the most common causes of performance problems.
A copy of your prescription and warranty documents. If your hearing aids are lost, damaged, or need emergency repair abroad, having this documentation with you can save a significant amount of time and money.
At the Airport
Keep Your Hearing Aids On
Keep your hearing aids in throughout the entire airport experience. Airports are noisy, announcement-heavy environments. You need to be able to hear clearly for check-in, security, boarding, and any changes to your gate or flight.
Do not pack your hearing aids in your checked luggage under any circumstances. Aeroplane cargo holds expose baggage to extreme temperatures and handling that are not appropriate for hearing aids. Always carry them on your person or in your carry-on bag.
Going Through Security
You can wear your hearing aids through airport security in the UK. Hearing aids contain very little metal and will not trigger standard metal detectors. It is, however, good practice to tell the security officer that you are wearing them before you pass through the scanner, so that if anything does flag, they can deal with it quickly and without confusion.
Do not place your hearing aids loose in the plastic security trays or on the conveyor belt. Static electricity can cause damage, and small devices are easily lost inside the machinery.
Many UK airports have induction loop systems throughout their terminals. Look for the sympathetic ear symbol. If you are worried about missing announcements, speak to a member of airport staff when you arrive. Most airports have assistance programmes in place specifically for passengers with hearing loss.
On the Plane
You can wear your hearing aids throughout the flight. They do not interfere with aircraft systems and are not subject to the restrictions that apply to phones and tablets. Keep them in during take-off and landing so you can hear safety announcements clearly.
If you are travelling alone, it is worth telling a flight attendant at the start of the flight that you have hearing loss. A brief word with the passenger next to you along the lines of “I wear hearing aids and might miss some announcements” often results in a helpful seatmate who will nudge you if something important comes over the intercom.
Air pressure changes do not damage hearing aids, though you may notice your ears feel different during ascent and descent, as anyone does. Chewing or yawning helps equalise the pressure.
Protecting Your Hearing Aids in the Sun and Heat
Heat is one of the most common causes of hearing aid damage on holiday, and it is almost entirely avoidable.
Never leave your hearing aids in direct sunlight. A sunlounger, a car dashboard, or a windowsill in a hot room can expose your devices to temperatures that damage the battery and distort plastic components. When you take your hearing aids out, put them straight into their case and store them somewhere cool and shaded.
Apply sunscreen, insect repellent, and hairspray before you put your hearing aids in, not after. These products can clog microphone ports and degrade the casings of your devices if they come into contact with them.
Use your dehumidifier every night without exception when you are in a hot or humid climate. Moisture accumulates in hearing aids during the day, particularly if you are sweating, and if it is not drawn out overnight it can cause progressive damage to the internal components.
At the Beach and in the Water
Remove your hearing aids before swimming. This applies to the sea, a pool, a lake, and any water-based activity. Most hearing aids are not waterproof, and water damage to the internal electronics is not typically covered by a standard warranty. Before you go near the water, put your aids in their protective case and store them somewhere shaded and away from where they could be splashed or knocked in.
Sand is a particular hazard at the beach. Fine particles can clog microphone ports and damage internal components. Keep your case sealed when your aids are not in use, and clean them carefully each evening after a beach day.
Salt air and humidity near the coast can gradually affect your devices even if they are never directly in contact with water. The nightly dehumidifier routine is especially important in coastal environments.
If your hearing aids do get wet, turn them off immediately, remove the battery if they are not rechargeable, dry them gently with a soft cloth, and leave them in your dehumidifier for several hours before using them again.
Travel Insurance: Read the Small Print
This is the one people most commonly overlook, and it is important.
Hearing aids are high-value items. A standard travel insurance policy may cover lost or stolen personal items up to a limit that falls well short of the replacement cost of premium hearing aids.
Before you travel, check whether your policy explicitly covers hearing aids for loss, accidental damage, and theft. If it does not, or if the limit is too low, either upgrade your policy or take out separate specialist hearing aid insurance. Specialist standalone policies for hearing aids in the UK, such as those offered by Assetsure, cover loss, accidental damage, and unexplained disappearance, and include worldwide travel cover for trips up to 60 days.
If you have hearing loss as a diagnosed condition, you should declare it when purchasing travel insurance. Failing to declare a pre-existing condition can invalidate your policy if you need medical treatment related to your hearing while abroad.
Keep your prescription details and any receipts or documentation with you on the trip. If you need to make a claim for lost or damaged hearing aids, this paperwork can make the process significantly faster.
At the Hotel
When you check in, let the hotel know that you have hearing loss. Many hotels can provide rooms with visual alert systems for fire alarms, a flashing or vibrating alarm for the telephone, or a knock-alert device for the door. These are worth requesting in advance if possible.
When you are not wearing your hearing aids in your room, do not leave them in the bathroom, near an open window, or in any location where they could be exposed to moisture or humidity. Keep them in their case on a dry, level surface.
A Final Note Before You Go
If your hearing aids are getting on in years, or if you have been putting off an upgrade, a holiday is a particularly good reason to have that conversation before you travel. Older devices are more vulnerable to the heat, humidity, and general demands of travel, and spending a fortnight worried about your hearing aids is not how any holiday should go.
At Hearing Aid Solutions, we are happy to check your current devices, advise on whether they are in good shape for travel, or talk through what newer options might offer you. Come in before you go.
[Book an Appointment Before You Travel]
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wear hearing aids through airport security?
Yes. Hearing aids can be worn through metal detectors and body scanners at UK airports. They contain very little metal and will not trigger standard detectors. It is good practice to tell the security officer you are wearing them before you go through, so any query can be handled quickly. Do not place hearing aids loose in the plastic security trays.
Do hearing aids need to be turned off on a plane?
No. Hearing aids do not interfere with aircraft systems and can be worn throughout the entire flight, including take-off and landing. They are not subject to the electronic device restrictions that apply to phones and tablets.
Can hearing aids be damaged by heat on holiday?
Yes. Exposure to direct sunlight, a hot car, or high ambient temperatures can damage hearing aid batteries and distort plastic casings. Never leave your hearing aids on a sunlounger, car dashboard, or in direct sunlight. Store them in a protective case in a cool, shaded location when not in use.
Should you take hearing aids out before swimming?
Yes. Most hearing aids are not waterproof, and water damage is not covered by a standard manufacturer warranty. Remove your aids before entering any water and store them in a sealed protective case away from splashing.
Does travel insurance cover hearing aids?
Standard travel insurance policies often have personal item limits that do not cover the full replacement cost of hearing aids. Before you travel, check that your policy explicitly includes hearing aids for loss, accidental damage, and theft. If not, upgrade the policy or consider specialist hearing aid insurance. Hearing loss should also be declared as a pre-existing condition when purchasing travel insurance.
What should you pack when travelling with hearing aids?
Pack spare batteries or your charger and a travel adapter, a cleaning kit, spare tubes or domes, a hard protective case, a portable dehumidifier, and a copy of your hearing aid prescription and warranty documents. Always pack these in your carry-on luggage, not your hold bag.
