There are currently more than 1.5 billion people living with hearing loss worldwide. Hearing loss can adversely impact all parts of our lives, and driving is no exception.
Driving is one of the most dangerous things people do on a daily basis. Let’s take a look at a couple of tips for staying safe while driving with hearing loss.
Wear Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are remarkable devices with a microphone that collects sound, an amplifier or processor that raises its volume and a speaker that transmits it directly to the ear canal. With hearing aids, you can remain aware of honking or swerving cars, pedestrians and more.
Minimize Distractions
An average of 3,000 people die yearly in crashes involving distracted drivers. Distracted driving may include but is not limited to:
- Texting
- Changing music
- Reading map or GPS instructions
- Eating
- Paying excess attention to other passengers
- Letting your mind wander
Those with hearing loss have fewer senses to rely on to keep them safe than those without. Because they have to pay more attention to the road while driving, it is even more critical for those with hearing loss to minimize distractions. A couple of tips for reducing distractions include:
- Set your phone to “do not disturb” to prevent texts from popping up while driving.
- Ask your passengers to talk quietly.
- Preset your music playlists before you start driving.
- Raise the volume on GPS instructions and mount the GPS to the window to avoid the need to look down at the map.
- Pull over to eat if you are hungry.
Use Extra Mirrors
With hearing loss, you must rely more heavily on your eyes for safety information. Adding blind spots and larger rear-view mirrors to your vehicle will help ensure you can see as much of your surrounding area as possible.
Close Car Windows
Feeling the breeze in your hair while driving along the South Fulton Scenic Byway can be refreshing on a crisp fall day, but it can also be noisy. If the wind is making it difficult to pay attention to safety noises while driving, it is wise to roll up your windows.
Some hearing aids come equipped with wind noise reduction technology. By reducing the wind noise, your hearing aids can allow you to enjoy a light breeze without making your driving unsafe. If you’re curious whether your devices have noise reduction technology, check your manual or consult your hearing aid specialist.
For more information on managing your hearing loss, contact Advanced Hearing today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.