Overcoming Hearing Loss During Travelling

Travel agencies, like any other business, have to provide access to anyone with disability. These measures have to be reasonable for those with physical impairments. When hard of hearing people know about access at a certain event or place, this sends out a strong message about how inclusive it is likely to be and could have an influence on their choice to attend.

There are an estimated eight million hearing-impaired people in the UK, but only 350 000 use sign language. While some rely upon it exclusively, others only need sign language in noisy surroundings. The majority of hard of hearing do not require sign language at all.

How to manage and overcome lack of hearing during travelling

Deaf people would often have to go to a travel agency with a relative or friend to book their holiday for them. If staff members had deaf awareness training, they can take measures when catering to their customer’s needs. Additionally, deaf people can feel more confident booking holidays led by guides who can speak for lip readers and use sign language.

It is worth considering booking transport with a sign language interpreter who makes it possible for deaf people to overcome lack of hearing such as the inability to hear announcements. A solution for many is a hearing-aid. This technology has massively improved over the past decade but sometimes the price of these devices dissuades a lot of hearing-impaired people from getting one. That is why it is essential that the voiceover is loud enough. It is best for the person concerned to take a seat close to the speaker where they can lip-read.

Managing lack of hearing during travelling can be stressful. Therefore, it is important to be prepared in advance. Before leaving on a trip, check that the websites of transportation services are compatible, as well as accessible, with specialised software and hardware that hard of hearing people use. This guarantees that certain staff members can communicate with the deaf. Contact points for queries manned by someone qualified will ensure that specific issues are correctly understood.

Writing down phone numbers for minicabs and taxis can save time in chasing public transport schedules. Additionally, consider parking and how far away it is from the place of interest. Doing a small amount of research for nearby car park facilities will help prevent obstructions between the car park and your venue, thereby ensuring all the details are taken care of before the trip.

Air companies give deaf and hard of hearing travellers quick access to information provided to other passengers. Airlines are also required to train staff to communicate with hearing-impaired travellers.

In various ways a cruise is the perfect holiday for the deaf. Overcoming lack of hearing is possible with all the facilities a traveller could need in addition to a safe and well-equipped environment. Many modern ships have medical personnel and equipment on-board. The best vessels are fitted with cabin lights that flash to alert hard of hearing people along with vibrating alarms to wake them up in an emergency.

Enjoy your holiday!