If you have recently acquired hearing aids, congratulations! You are on the path toward better hearing and communication, and you will likely find benefits for driving, as well. Although hearing aids can make driving much safer, they can also take some getting used to. When you first drive with hearing aids, you might be suddenly sensitized to a wide range of sound that can surprise you. As you transition to safely using hearing aids while driving, a few tips can help you stay safe while also reaping the benefits they offer.
Take Care of Your Vision
Although your hearing is crucial to safe driving, your eyes really run the show. Remaining able to clearly and easily see is the most important tip for safe driving while wearing hearing aids. Of course, this means making sure to wear your eyeglasses while driving, but there are other steps you can take, as well. Reduce sun glare with sunglasses or visors, and make sure that your mirrors are all adjusted and unobstructed. Adjusting your seat position and placement within the car makes it possible to see in all directions if you are suddenly sensitized to a sound that alerts you to danger or other traffic.
Be Aware of Mobility Restrictions
If you have any mobility restrictions, they can get in the way of quickly responding to the sound of emergency vehicles or dangers. For instance, if you have tension or pain in your neck and back, they can make it difficult to turn your head abruptly in search of the source of a sound. When your new hearing aids are in place, you might feel inclined to glance in every direction, searching for the source of the sound. If you have muscular or other pain, you might want to take a pain reliever or even consider delaying driving until your freedom of motion is restored.
Take Time Acclimating to Hearing Aids
When you first receive your hearing aids, it is best not to wear them driving right away. A better course of action is to acclimate to these devices in a calm, safe environment first. When you are in a quiet home, try using hearing aids and getting used to the new sounds all around you. Take the process just a few hours at a time if you find it is difficult to adjust. Once you have become comfortable with that process, you can proceed to louder and more surprising contexts, such as shopping, dinner at a restaurant, or a social gathering. Once you have tested out some of these situations that offer an opportunity for surprise, you can proceed to trying your hearing aids while driving. Again, take it slow and steady. Rather than immediately taking to the highway, try wearing hearing aids in a safe residential area. You might be suddenly aware of new sounds that your vehicle makes or the sound of the road in certain areas. If an emergency vehicle passes by, you will be newly aware of just how loud those sirens are in comparison with the rest of your environment!
Enjoy the Ride
Above all, enjoy the process of learning to drive with hearing aids. You won’t want to incorporate music or conversations with others into your driving routine at first, but after a period of adjustment you can bring these into your life.
At a relatively low volume, you will find that music is a pleasant addition to the drive, while allowing you to hear passing vehicles, as well. Similarly, you will probably want to adjust to hearing aids on your own or with a trusted loved one. After you have made that adjustment, you can bring passengers along with you again, including your children or grandchildren. Be sure to ask them to follow the safety measures of using a quiet volume, but you will likely find how much fun it is to return to driving the car with your family.
Another true sonic delight is putting the windows down in the summer and listening to the sound of nature as you drive down a country road. With the birds singing and the bugs in chorus, you will be glad to have hearing aids there to make it all possible!