Yes, you can fly with hearing aids without removing them, and in most cases you should keep them in throughout your journey. You don’t need to take them out for airport security, and they’ll actually help you navigate announcements, gate changes, and crew instructions: precisely when you need them most.
The travel question comes up often with patients who fly regularly. The concern is understandable. You’re dealing with expensive medical devices, unfamiliar security procedures and a pressurised metal tube at 35,000 feet. The reality is far less dramatic than most people imagine.
What Actually Happens at Airport Security
Airport security staff see hearing aids all the time. The Department of Home Affairs, which oversees aviation security screening in Australia, says you do not need to remove your hearing aids before being screened, and that metal detectors and body scanners won’t affect hearing aids, cochlear implants or middle ear implants. You don’t need special documentation or prior approval.
Home Affairs does recommend telling the screening officer before screening if you have a medical device or need help. It’s worth mentioning your hearing aids, particularly if you might not catch spoken instructions clearly in a noisy screening area.
If you’re selected for additional checks, officers may use other screening methods, such as a frisk search, but under the Home Affairs guidance they should not remove, or try to remove, your medical device. Rules overseas differ, so check the guidance for the countries you’re flying through.
If you have a cochlear implant, carry your implant ID card and follow the manufacturer’s advice about screening equipment. Standard hearing aids, even powerful behind-the-ear models, rarely cause issues.
Wearing Hearing Aids During the Flight
You can generally keep your hearing aids in for the whole flight, including take-off and landing. If you’re unsure, check your airline’s policy on medical devices before you fly.
The air pressure changes during ascent and descent won’t damage your hearing aids, though they might make your own ears feel blocked: the same sensation everyone experiences, hearing loss or not. Your hearing aids don’t equalise pressure; they’re sitting in your ear canal, not your middle ear. If you normally have trouble with pressure equalisation, the aids won’t make it worse, but they won’t fix it either. Standard advice applies: yawn, swallow, chew gum. Our guide to flying with blocked ears has more tips.
Some patients worry about the low humidity in aircraft cabins affecting their devices. It’s a fair question, since cabin air is very dry, but a single flight won’t harm a modern hearing aid. Many current hearing aids carry an IP68 rating, meaning they’re well protected against dust and moisture such as sweat. A few hours of dry air won’t do much. The bigger risk is if you’re travelling somewhere genuinely humid (Singapore, Darwin in the wet season) and then moving in and out of air conditioning. That’s when you want a dehumidifier or drying kit in your travel bag.
Bluetooth, Streaming, and Airline Mode
Many hearing aids connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Airline rules on using Bluetooth in flight vary between airlines, so follow the crew’s instructions. If you’re asked to switch Bluetooth off, put your phone in flight mode or turn off streaming. The aids themselves keep working for sound around you either way: they don’t rely on the Bluetooth connection to amplify speech.
If your aids stream phone calls or music, you’ll lose that function in flight mode, but you’ll still hear the person next to you, the crew announcements and everything else in the cabin. The microphones and processors work independently of the wireless features.
What to Pack in Your Carry-On
Never put hearing aids in checked luggage. Temperature extremes in the cargo hold, potential for lost bags, and rough handling make it a bad idea. Keep them on your person or in your carry-on at all times.
If your aids use disposable zinc-air batteries, pack spares. A long-haul flight plus airport delays can drain a battery faster than expected, especially if you’re streaming audio or using directional features in noisy terminals. Battery life depends on the battery size and how much you stream, and a long day in a loud airport isn’t “normal” use. Bring at least two extra sets per aid.
Rechargeable hearing aids are easier in some ways (a full charge usually covers a full day), but you need to think about your charger and power adapters. Australia uses 230V outlets with Type I plugs. If you’re heading to the US, Europe, or Asia, bring the right adapter or a USB charging case that works globally. Arriving overseas with a charger that won’t fit the outlets turns a simple issue into a scramble for an electronics shop.
A small drying kit or dehumidifier is worth the space if you’re going somewhere humid or if you’ll be away for more than a few days. The capsule-style desiccant holders weigh almost nothing and can prevent moisture damage that would otherwise mean a repair when you’re back.
Do You Need Medical Clearance or a Doctor’s Letter?
No. You don’t need a GP letter, an audiologist’s note or any formal documentation to travel with hearing aids.
The main time I suggest carrying paperwork is if you have a cochlear implant or bone-conduction implant, in which case the manufacturer usually provides an ID card. Even then, it’s more about speeding up security questions than satisfying a legal requirement.
Real Concerns I Hear in the Clinic
One frequent worry: “What if my hearing aid falls out during turbulence or when I’m leaning over to get something from under the seat?” Fair question, especially if you wear RIC or open-fit devices that sit less securely than custom moulds. If your aids regularly feel loose, talk to your audiologist before you travel. We can adjust retention features, try a different dome size, or even make a custom mould if you’re travelling long-term. A device that falls into an aeroplane seat mechanism is genuinely hard to retrieve.
Another one: “Will the noise on the plane damage my hearing aids or make them malfunction?” No. Cabin noise is loud, but it’s well within the range of sound hearing aids are designed to handle. You might find the noise uncomfortable, in which case turning down the volume or switching to a program with less gain in the low frequencies can help, but the devices themselves won’t be harmed.
After You Land
When you reach your destination, give your aids a quick check. If you’ve been somewhere humid, use your drying kit overnight. If you flew through multiple time zones and you’re jet-lagged, don’t forget to charge them or swap batteries before bed: it’s an easy thing to overlook when you’re disoriented.
If something does go wrong while you’re away (a dead receiver, cracked tubing or a lost dome), most major cities have audiology clinics that can help with basic repairs or replacements, even if you weren’t originally fitted there. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than going without for the rest of your trip.
The Real Answer Underneath the Question
People don’t usually ask “can I fly with hearing aids” because they’re worried about regulations. They ask because they’re anxious about navigating an already stressful environment (airports, security, announcements in noisy terminals) while managing devices they’re still getting used to.
The truth is, your hearing aids make flying easier, not harder. You’ll hear gate changes, boarding groups, and safety announcements. You’ll understand the cabin crew when they ask if you want chicken or pasta. You’ll actually be able to talk to the person next to you if you feel like it.
Wear them. Pack spares. Charge them. Don’t overthink it.
If you’re heading overseas and want to check your devices are fitting properly before you go, or if you need a quick clean and functional check, book a quick appointment at our Epping or Forestville clinic. We can make sure everything’s working as it should and that you’ve got the right accessories for where you’re headed.
