Deaf travelers say airport announcements put them at risk

Deaf travelers note that information is often only communicated verbally for airline passengers, sometimes leaving them without crucial updates.

Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have you experienced your own accessibility issues while flying? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.

When you’re sitting in the airport, the deluge of announcements can be overwhelming. The boarding order for the flight to Orlando has no impact on your trip to Denver. But imagine how dangerous it could be if you didn’t have any announcements. 

For many Deaf travelers, that’s the reality of flying. Crucial announcements in the airport and onboard airplanes are often only made verbally or in some other audio-based format, which means travelers with hearing loss may be missing out on important information like last-minute gate changes or crucial safety instructions in the event of an emergency. 

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Hearing Disorders, about 30 million people age 12 or older in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss in both ears, so this audio-centric information broadcasting in airports potentially affects millions of travelers every year.  

One of those travelers really wanted to make sure I was paying attention and reached out to me recently.