The spirit of adventure is in all of us and inclusion is the best compass to guide the journey. InnoCaption’s Co-CEO, Joe Duarte, is an avid traveler and knows the in’s and out’s of flying with hearing loss. We sat down with Joe to get his tips on how he makes navigating the airport more accessible, ensuring that your globetrotting dreams can take flight seamlessly.
As someone who has faced the challenges of hearing loss and understands the importance of staying informed, I recommend a few strategies to stay up to date on flight changes and other important information:
1. Download the airline's mobile app. One of the most effective ways to stay informed about flight changes and receive real-time updates is by downloading the airline's official mobile application. This way you can easily, flight status tracking and any gate change alerts. Enable Push Notifications: Once you have the airline's app installed, ensure that push notifications are enabled. This way, you'll receive immediate updates on your cell phone regarding any changes to your flight, such as delays, gate changes, or boarding announcements. These notifications can be set to include visual alerts, providing better accessibility for individuals who are hard of hearing.
2. Use text and email alerts. Many airlines offer the option to receive important updates via text messages or email. To take advantage of this, make sure you provide your contact information when booking your flight and opt to receive notifications. This ensures that you have multiple channels for receiving vital information and reduces the chance of you missing any important updates.
3. Ask about assistive listening devices at the airport. At the airport, inquire about assistive listening devices (ALDs) available for travelers who are hard of hearing. Some airports provide ALDs that can amplify announcements, making it easier to stay informed about any changes to your flight.
By using these tips you can stress less about getting to your flight and have peace of mind knowing you’re not missing any announcements. Opting to download the airline’s app and receive notifications can go a long way in helping travelers with hearing loss have the best flying experience.
When flying with hearing loss, it's important to proactively disclose that you are deaf or hard of hearing to airport personnel so you receive appropriate accommodations. Here's my approach to this and who I recommend you inform:
1. Inform the airline during booking. When booking your flight, consider notifying the airline about your hearing loss. Many airlines have customer service representatives or accessibility coordinators who can assist you in making the necessary arrangements. They may add a note to your reservation indicating your hearing loss.
Staying informed of important announcements and concerns while in-flight is crucial for travelers with hearing loss. Here's a recommended approach:
1. Notify the flight attendant during boarding. As you board the aircraft, approach one of the flight attendants and inform them of your hearing loss. Politely explain that you may have difficulty hearing in-flight announcements over the cabin's public address system. Provide your seat number so they can locate you easily if needed. You can also inform the flight attendant on board of how they can best communicate with you, whether it is by approaching you directly, writing down important information, or using visual cues to get your attention when necessary.
2. Utilize closed captioned entertainment. Some airlines offer closed captioning for in-flight entertainment systems, which can be helpful for passengers with hearing loss. Inquire about this feature and how to activate it on your flight. Depending on your flight, captioned entertainment may be available already or you may need to download the airline’s app to have access.
3. Carry items for written communication. It's a good idea to have a pen and paper or a note-taking app on your mobile device readily available. This allows you to communicate in writing with flight attendants if needed for clear communication.
4. Request a pre-flight briefing. If you have a significant hearing loss or are profoundly deaf, consider requesting a brief pre-flight safety briefing from the flight attendant. They can explain safety procedures and emergency exits to you personally, so you have a clear understanding.
By taking these steps and proactively communicating your needs to the flight attendants, you can help make sure that you stay informed of important announcements and concerns while in-flight.
No, you do not need to remove cochlear implants or hearing aids when going through airport security. Airport security personnel are trained to recognize these devices and will not ask you to remove them during the security screening process.
However, it's a good practice to inform the security officer that you are wearing cochlear implants or hearing aids before you go through the metal detector or undergo additional security procedures. This helps ensure a smooth and efficient screening process and reduces the likelihood of any misunderstandings.
You can also carry a card or documentation from your healthcare provider stating that you have cochlear implants or hearing aids, which you can show to security personnel if needed. This can be helpful in situations where there might be any uncertainty or if you encounter security personnel who are less familiar with these devices.
Yes, you can bring assistive listening devices and hearing aid accessories on board when you fly. These items are typically allowed in your carry-on luggage. It's a good idea to keep them easily accessible during the flight in case you need to adjust or use them.
In the event of an emergency on the plane, airline staff are trained to ensure the safety of all passengers, including those with hearing loss. Here's what you can do to stay informed:
If your hearing aid or cochlear implant malfunctions during the flight, take the following steps:
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
