Travelling for the first time with a child can be daunting for any parent but if you’re travelling with a child with a cochlear implant, or a child who is hearing impaired, there are added considerations. Here are 15 tips to help you prepare for a trip when you're travelling with a child with a hearing impairment & cochlear implant For cochlear implants, pack a battery charger, extra batteries and if travelling overseas take a power adaptor. Save hearing centre contact details to your phone so if you lose or damage processors you can get expert local help quickly. Take extra parts with you in case of loss or damage. Consider taking spare speaker covers, ear hooks and cables. Take your patient ID and medic alert bracelet if you have one. This card helps explain to airport officials how the cochlear implants work. It will alert officials to the magnetic element, the high risk of having, or being near an MRI machine. Allow additional time to get through airport security. Although official advice says walking through metal detectors is okay, to avoid buzzing sounds which can be uncomfortable, it can be preferable to ask security to use a hand-held device. There is no need to turn off your device during take-off or landing. The implant cannot interfere with the plane’s navigation or communication systems. Use the mini mic for in-flight entertainment, this allows clear transmission of sound to the child or person wearing the cochlear implant. Carry a first aid kit with you including moleskins which can be helpful if the skin between the magnets gets sore. When planning your holiday remember to plan breaks, down-time and quiet activities (bush walks, galleries, museum visits) as hearing impaired children get tired faster. Their brains are working hard to convert sounds. If you’re
Travelling for the first time with a child can be daunting for any parent but if you’re travelling with a child with a cochlear implant, or a child who is hearing impaired, there are added considerations.
