The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports, “Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.” If you’re among this population and you’re planning a trip to Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas via train, you may be wondering how you can successfully navigate your journey. We provide tips for train travel with hearing loss below.
Schedule an Appointment with an Audiologist
The first thing we recommend doing is scheduling an appointment with an audiologist at SoundLogic. One of our hearing experts can perform a diagnostic hearing test and fit you with a set of prescriptive hearing aids to help you hear announcements and other important information while at the train station, as well as the voices of your travel companions, with greater ease.
Buy Your Ticket in Advance Online
If you know how to do it, we recommend buying your ticket in advance online, so you’re not straining to hear the employee at the train station or risking miscommunication with them in the midst of all the background noise. If you don’t know how to do this, ask a friend or relative who can help.
Study Your Route
In the days leading up to your train ride, you should also study your route. You can even write down the planned stops between where you depart and where you arrive so you can track how far into your ride you are as you go.
Arrive Early
On the day of your departure, plan to arrive early, just like you would if you were catching a flight. This will give you time to communicate with staff, check for changes to the schedule, review safety protocols and arrange a convenient seat.
Choose a Good Seat
Once you’re on the train, choose a seat in a designated quiet zone or one strategically placed near a speaker or digital sign that will announce upcoming stops.
Follow Live Departures
If you have a smartphone, you can not only buy and display your ticket on it, but also follow live departures and other information, like delays and platform numbers.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call SoundLogic today.