A
female
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:Not sure this is quite the right place but I wondered if anyone out there is partly deaf/wears hearing aids and has any experience of learning to sail? I really, really want to go to sailing club/sailing lessons but I have to wear one,sometimes two hearing aids and they're not supposed to get wet...it's a long shot, but I wondered how other people come with things like this? My fear is that if I have to take out my aids and the instructor is trying to shout instructions across the water, I won't hear...I can swim, I have a very small amount of sailing experience on a small boat when I was a teenager and I absolutely love being in a boat on the water, will be very sad if I can't do this.
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female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (10 February 2014):
 Yep there are waterproof hearing aids out there and MANY instructors use (hand) signs as well as verbal commands, so it's about paying attention more then "hearing" really.
Also you won't be going out on the high seas and heavy weather in the beginning it will be quite OK.
I would talk to your doctor (or whomever hooked you up with hearing aids) and ask about water proof ones.
And I STRONGLY recommend you start taking swimming lessons now because the sailing season start.
A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (8 February 2014): i am not sure, because i am not experiened enough with water sports, but can you always have someone with you so they can signal that you are needing to look at the instructor? maybe they can sign things that you need to do. there has to be some accommodation, some body language or hand signs to use for things you need to do. of course, if instructor is not trained in how to automatically use signals, that could be dangerous. there has to be a way, though
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (8 February 2014): Hi,
Why not try contacting the manufacturer of the hearing aid (or the people that issued it to you) and ask their advice as well.
If you're new to hearing aids you may well have been told not to get them wet as there are (unfortunately) some people out there who think that they can take showers and go swimming with them in! But maybe occasional spray would be ok - after all, people with hearing loss must have to be out in the rain sometimes - especially if the live in the UK! It's certainly worth calirifying anyway
Also try posting your question in forums for people with hearing loss or other sailing enthusiasts - you'll probably have more of a chance of finding some-one who knows the answer
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (8 February 2014): Thank you!!!
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A
female
reader, AuntyEm +, writes (8 February 2014):
 There is a waterproof hearing aid on the market. I just googled it and not sure if it's suitable for you but worth a shot. Speak to your sailing instructor, perhaps they can find a solution for alternative communication for you.
You just need to do a little more research.
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (8 February 2014):
 You can buy waterproof hearing aids now, quick google search turns up a bunch.
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