In previous years, we have provided articles with travel tips for our Ponto™ System wearers. Now that it’s time for winter vacations, here are suggestions for traveling with your Sentio™ System, the active transcutaneous hearing system we introduced more than a year ago. We hope these tips will help you enjoy your time away from home with confidence!

Airline Travel with Sentio

If you are traveling by plane, make sure you inform TSA personnel that you are wearing an implantable hearing device. They will recommend whether you should remove your Sentio 1 Mini sound processor(s) at the security checkpoint, so follow their instructions. Don’t worry—it is safe to pass through the scanner.

Once on the airplane, you can enable Flight Mode during takeoff and landing to disable your Sentio’s Bluetooth®, if required by flight personnel. The sound processor itself will continue working, so you can hear your seatmate, flight attendants, and announcements.

Activate or deactivate Flight Mode by pressing either the front- or back-facing part of the Sentio’s double push button for seven seconds. After a few seconds, you will hear a jingle that indicates Mute mode. Keep pressing the button until a final jingle is heard, which confirms you have successfully activated/deactivated Flight Mode. Removing and reinserting the battery will also deactivate Flight Mode, with the same, short jingle confirming implementation.

Sentio Maintenance Throughout Your Trip

While you’re traveling, it is a good idea to keep your Sentio 1 Mini in its case whenever you aren’t using it. This protects it from dust, dirt, water, or other substances that could affect its performance.

You should be aware that the chemicals used in cosmetics may damage the processor. These include items commonly used during vacations, including the following:

• Hairspray
• Perfume
• Aftershave cream or lotion
• Suntan lotion or spray
• Insect repellant

If you use any of the above, make sure you do so before putting on your Sentio processor and avoid the area around it as much as possible.

While the processor is resistant to daily life situations (e.g., exposure to rain going from your car to someplace indoors), it is not waterproof, so don’t dive into a swimming pool or otherwise immerse it in water. Of course, accidents can happen. If your Sentio 1 Mini winds up getting wet, remove the battery lid, remove the battery and let it dry out. If you have a hearing aid dryer along, you can put it in that for a cycle.

Keep Your Sentio System Charged

One thing you definitely want to avoid is having your Sentio 1 Mini run out of charge while you’re traveling. Battery life varies depending on usage time, sound environment, how frequently you stream, and other factors. Make sure you bring enough spare Size 675 batteries along to keep your processor up and running for the length of your trip. They are small, so err on the side of packing more than you think you might need. Don’t forget the battery lid tool included with your Sentio System, so that you can easily open the battery door.

You will know it is time to replace the battery when you hear consecutive beeps repeated in moderate intervals, as follows:

• Three alternate beeps indicate that the battery is running low
• Four beeps in a descending tone indicate that the battery is running out completely

Another sign that the battery is running low is that Bluetooth will turn off and you will lose connection to your phone or other wireless accessories.

NOTE: If your hearing care professional turned on the optional LED indicator when programming your Sentio 1 Mini, this tiny light will blink orange repeatedly to notify you when your battery is running low.

Secure Your Sentio 1 Mini Processor

Since travelers tend to engage in more physical activities than usual, it is a good idea to attach a safety line to your Sentio 1 Mini processor. This reduces the risk of the processor being knocked off and damaged or lost. To attach the safety line, watch this helpful how-to video and follow these steps:

1. Pass the loop of the safety line through the attachment hole in the battery lid
2. Pass the loop through the attachment hole in the sound processor
3. Insert the sound processor through the loop of the safety line and tighten
4. Attach the safety line clip to your clothing

TIP: Make sure you don’t pull or tug on the safety line, as this could disconnect the processor.

In Case of Emergency

While of course we hope this situation never arises, medical emergencies sometimes happen during vacation travel. In the spirit of preparedness, we suggest you download and bring the MRI Security Card for the Sentio System. Fold it and keep it in your wallet, and/or make sure someone traveling with you knows where it is. You can also store the URL in your phone: MRI Security Card for Sentio System

We hope you found this information useful! If you ever have any questions or concerns about the care and maintenance of your Sentio System, please contact us at 888.277.8014 or [email protected].