Your Guide to Flying With Hearing Aids

Flying with hearing aids can be smooth and enjoyable. This guide provides practical tips to keep you connected, comfortable, and confident from takeoff to touchdown.

Audiologist Natalie Calderon

Published 2/17/2026,

Updated 6/16/2026

2 min read

Reviewed by

HearUSA editorial team

Hearing aidsTips and tricks

On this page

Preparing for Your Flight

Battery Regulations for Air Travel

At the Airport

During the Flight

Preparing for Your Flight

What to Do Before Flying With Hearing Aids

As for many other moments in life, preparation is key. Therefore, preparing to fly with hearing aids is no different. To help, we’ve answered some common questions that you might have about wearing hearing aids on planes.

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Should I Schedule a Pre-Flight Hearing Aid Check?

A quick checkup ensures your devices are clean, performing well, and ready for long travel days. It also provides you with peace of mind, wherever you are traveling.

A quick appointment can help you feel reassured before you go.

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Can I Wear Hearing Aids on a Plane?

Yes, you can absolutely wear hearing aids on a plane. Modern hearing aids are safe for air travel and won't interfere with aircraft systems. Keeping them on helps you stay aware of announcements, communicate with flight attendants clearly, and enjoy in-flight entertainment.

Modern hearing aids are safe to use on planes and help you stay connected in the air.

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If Traveling Internationally, Should I Pack a Voltage Converter for My Hearing Aid Charger?

Simple checks before departure help keep hearing aids safe and functional overseas.

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It depends on where you are traveling. In the same way that power sockets vary across countries and regions, voltage and frequency also change. While most hearing aid chargers have a voltage converter built in, you should always confirm the voltage range of your charger. You can do this by checking your charger’s label.

If the range is wide, for example, 100 – 240V, it will cover most regions. If your charger has a limited range, for example, 120V, it’s best to pack a voltage converter to ensure the safety of your hearing aids while charging abroad.

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How Should I Pack Hearing Aids on Planes?

Prepare a dedicated kit containing:

Extra batteries, or fully charged power bank or smart charger
Cleaning tools and spare wax guards
Protective storage case
Drying kit or dehumidifier
A copy of your hearing aid prescription for international travel
International power adaptor and voltage converter (if required)

Travel with confidence by planning ahead.

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Battery Regulations for Air Travel

Can You Take Hearing Aid Batteries on a Plane?

Yes, you can take hearing aid batteries on a plane. This includes:

Disposable zinc-air batteries
Disposable hearing aid batteries are permitted in carry-on luggage, but it’s important not to stow them in your checked luggage. Pack extra batteries in your carry-on bag and keep them in their original packaging to prevent accidental activation.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
Rechargeable hearing aids with built-in lithium-ion batteries are allowed on planes. Aviation safety guidelines require that external battery chargers and spare lithium-ion batteries travel in carry-on luggage, not checked baggage.

Pack your charging case, cables, and any portable power banks in your carry-on bag so you can recharge during layovers or delays. Most hearing aid lithium-ion batteries are well within airline safety limits.

At the Airport

Navigating Airport Security With Hearing Aids

From airport security to navigating the terminal, these tips are designed to ease pre-departure stress.

Will hearing aids set off security metal detectors?

Hearing aids won’t trigger metal detectors or body scanners at airport security, so there's no need to remove them.

Airport security screening tips

Keep your hearing aids in place during screening
Inform security personnel that you're wearing hearing aids if needed
Ask for visual cues or written instructions if you need to clarify information or announcements

Utilizing the airport's hearing loop system

Some airports have special hearing loop systems that send announcements straight into your hearing aids, making them clearer to hear. Look for the blue ear-and-“T” signs around check-in areas, help desks, and boarding gates.

To use the hearing loop system, your hearing aid needs to have a telecoil (T-coil) setting. You can check your devices or original packaging for the universal telecoil symbol (stylized ear with a curved line or the letter "T" through it) or check your device program settings for a "T" or "MT" option.

During the Flight

Flying With Bluetooth Hearing Aids

If you use Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, you may need to adjust settings during different parts of the flight. Scenarios may include during takeoff and landing, and when background noise feels overwhelming. Follow these tips:

Reduce airplane background noise

Aircraft engines create significant background noise. Instead of turning up the volume (which amplifies everything, including engine rumble), lower it slightly and rely on your device's noise reduction features to maintain speech clarity.

Activate airplane mode for your hearing aids

During takeoff and landing, switch your Bluetooth hearing aids to airplane mode. This turns off streaming but keeps your amplification working normally. Once electronic devices are permitted, you can turn on Bluetooth to stream audio from your phone or tablet.

Do Hearing Aids Connect to Airplane Entertainment Screens?

Most hearing aids don’t connect directly to airplane entertainment screens because the systems do not use open Bluetooth pairing. However, you’ll still have plenty of ways to enjoy entertainment throughout your flight.

If you want to stream in-flight audio to your hearing aids, you may be able to use a small Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack. These work with many Made for iPhone (MFi), ASHA-compatible Android, or newer LE Audio hearing aids. Some models won’t pair, so check before you travel.

If streaming isn’t possible, you can wear airline headphones over your hearing aids, ask the crew for higher-volume headsets, turn on captions, or bring your own downloaded entertainment.

Even without direct Bluetooth pairing, simple alternatives help you stay comfortable, engaged, and connected during your flight.

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How to Manage Cabin Pressure Changes

It’s important to note that the type of hearing aid and fitting affects how you experience air pressure changes. Swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum can help equalize the pressure.

If you’re experiencing significant discomfort, try removing your hearing aids to allow pressure to equalize quickly. Removing hearing aids is particularly helpful for people wearing completely-in-the-canal (CIC) or in-the-ear (ITE) models.

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Find your nearest hearing care center and schedule your pre-travel hearing aid checkup.

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Sources:

Research Gate: Improving accessibility for hearing impaired on board the airplane with ASR (December 2014): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344202690_Improving_accessibility_for_hearing_impaired_on_board_the_airplane_with_ASR