With the weather warming up, a lot of us are thinking about the summer road trips that take us to faraway and fabulous destinations, or, at least, moderately far away and slightly glamorous trips. Before you start planning your next big road trip out of Savannah, take a look at our list of tips for safe driving when you have hearing loss.
1. Stay Alert
It’s easy to go on autopilot when you’re driving, especially if your car has cruise control. Everyone should stay alert when they’re driving, but it’s extra important when you have hearing loss. Scan your mirrors and dashboard regularly to ensure you aren’t missing anything. Keep your eyes peeled for pedestrians, turn signals, flashing lights and road signs.
2. Minimize Distractions
Between smartphones, passengers and music, there are a lot of possible distractions when you’re driving. Make a concentrated effort not to give in to these distractions. Put your phone on do not disturb, or better yet, put it in the glove box, turn your music down to a comfortable volume and ask your passengers to limit distracting behavior (moving around a lot, shouting, etc.).
3. Wear Your Hearing Aids
An estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults[1] could benefit from the amplified speech and reduced background noise that hearing aids provide. Not only do hearing aids help you communicate with others, but they’re an invaluable tool when you’re driving. By amplifying the voices of pedestrians, passing cyclists, car horns and sirens, they help keep you alert to essential safety cues.
You can also connect your hearing aids to your phone’s GPS via Bluetooth®, eliminating the need to check your phone for directions constantly.
Hearing aid care is crucial in ensuring you get the clearest sound possible from your devices. Clean your devices nightly and ensure they are fully charged before setting out on the road. You should also schedule a repair and service appointment every six months or so to check that the programming still fits your hearing profile. Contact Audiology and Hearing Aid Services today to schedule your appointment with one of our specialists.
[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.). *Quick statistics about hearing*. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing