This section has some general strategies that people have found useful when going on holiday.
Hearing aids:
1. Many people said that they always take spare batteries with them on holiday so that they don’t need to look for an audiology clinic or have to buy new batteries.
Alarm Clocks:
2. One person said, “If I’m taking my electric travel alarm clock with me when I go abroad I always make sure that I have an adapter for that country with me.”
Door Alerter:
3. Some people said they found it difficult knowing when somebody was knocking at their hotel door e.g. room service or in the event of a fire.
One person said, “I always used to worry that I wouldn’t hear if someone knocked on my hotel room door.My social worker suggested I buy a portable door beacon which just fits on the door or over the top of the door and flashes when someone knocks. I feel much more able to relax in my room now that I don’t have to worry about knowing if someone is there.”
Portable door beacons are available from Action on Hearing Loss Shop and Connevans.
Fire:
4. One person said that on arrival at their guest house they tell staff that in the event of an emergency during the night, staff are not to waste time knocking, but just to let themselves in and wake them. They also stressed that the guest house is one they have been going to for several years and they feel that they can trust the staff.
(Note from Editors: There is always the chance that in the event of a real emergency the staff would not come to get you.)
5. Some hotels have special equipment to alert deaf guests in the event of a fire drill or fire alarm. If they say they haven’t it might be worth asking how they will let you know in the event of a fire alarm/drill and also remind them that they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled guests under the Equality Act (in the UK).
(For more information on the Equality Act click on the following link:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068)
6. Some people said they take a portable smoke detector with them.
General:
7. Some people ask when booking their hotel if they can have a room with a TV with subtitles. Some hotels are more helpful than others about things like this.
8. One lady who cannot hear on a phone and cannot text on a mobile because of her arthritis said that when she is travelling with a friend they always make arrangements about what to do if they should become separated at all. E.g. they arrange to meet outside an obvious landmark or back at their hotel room for a certain time.
Airports:
9. Several people said that now that security is much more strict at airports, it makes sense to know what is allowed in your hand luggage and what is not before you set off. This can help prevent having to have a discussion with airport staff about what is allowed and what is not and what’s got to be moved into your suitcase or left behind…
Communication
10. Some people always take their Communication Card and badge on holiday as it can help to save explaining how the speaker can help them.
Tips on using your communication card in foreign places
One person said, “I found my Communication Card no use in foreign speaking countries, because even if people can speak English, they can’t always read it, so now I get my card translated by a translation website into the language of whatever country I’m going to. This has been most helpful.
(A website that can translate sentences into various languages for free is: www.google.com/language_tools)