If you have hearing loss, driving can pose a few potential challenges that can potentially impact your safety and the safety of others. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to improve your hearing when on the road.
Visit an Audiologist To Get Your Hearing Checked
If you’ve noticed that you’re struggling to hear, whether on the road or out with your family, schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test. These exams are quick, non-invasive and can quickly determine the cause and severity of your hearing loss.
Hearing aids are the most common treatment option for hearing loss and can help make driving easier in several ways.
- Hearing aids amplify sounds, making it easier to hear things like another driver honking their horn or an upcoming emergency vehicle with its sirens on. Being able to hear these sounds better and sooner helps keep yourself and others safe on the road.
- Newer models have features that can improve speech recognition that is coming from your side or behind you, making it easier to hear other passengers in the car.
- Many hearing aids have the ability to connect wirelessly to your smartphone. This means you can stream directs directly into your device when you drive, making it easier to hear and letting you focus on the road.
Avoid Distractions When Driving
Even with hearing aids, it can still be helpful to minimize distracting sounds when driving. Keep the windows rolled up to eliminate wind noise and help block out traffic sounds. You also may find it helpful to keep the radio off, or at least at a low volume when driving, and ask other passengers in the car to use headphones if they are watching or listening to anything on one of their devices.
Take Care of Your Vehicle
Sometimes a weird clicking or quiet rumbling noise can be the first time something is amiss with your car. If you have hearing loss, it may be harder to pick up on these subtle sounds right away. This is why it’s important to take care of your vehicle and have regularly scheduled maintenance checks at Quality Automotive & Tire or other local mechanics and address any issues as soon as possible.
For more tips on how to hear better in the car or to schedule an appointment to get your hearing checked by one of our experts, contact Hearing Healthcare Center, Inc. today.