Are you among the 15% of American adults who reports some trouble hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders? If you are and you’re planning to take a trip on a train soon, you may be wondering what you can do to prepare. We review tips for this below.
Buy Your Ticket in Advance
The Amtrak Station in Santa Barbara will likely be loud and bustling, which will be a challenging listening situation. To prevent any miscommunication and ensure you buy the right train ticket, we recommend buying your ticket in advance online. If you don’t know how to do this, ask a relative or friend to help you.
Know Your Route
Review your route in advance so that you’re prepared. You can write down all the planned stops along the route so you can track how far you are from your destination during the ride.
Bring Hearing Aids & Accessories
If you use hearing aids and accessories, bring them along so that you’re hearing your best while at the station and on the train.
Arrive Early
Just like any other mode of travel, you should check-in early. Use your downtime to check for schedule changes, review posted COVID-19 safety protocols and arrange a seat where you can easily see and hear updates.
Follow Live Departures
If you have a smartphone, not only can you use it to buy and display your ticket, but you can also live track departures and arrivals using the train station’s app, so you can see whether your train will be delayed and which platform you need to be at. This way, you won’t have to strain to hear alerts over the PA system.
Talk to Staff
You should talk to staff at the station and on the train to let them know about your hearing loss and where you’re traveling to. You can request that they come up to you to double-check you hear any updates and ensure you don’t miss your stop.
Visit an Audiologist to Prepare
If you don’t yet have your own set of hearing aids, schedule an appointment with an audiologist before your trip to learn how they could benefit you. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Hearing Services of Santa Barbara today.
