Carrie Jackiewicz, Special Services Coordinator
In October, Child’s Voice held a virtual Sports Panel with two of our alumni. They shared their experiences with sports and specifically shared tips for participating in sports in high school and college. Both alumni had many positive things to say about playing a sport. They shared that there is always a solution to problems and it comes down to trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Our alumni shared some great ideas, and I wanted to share them with you.
One topic we discussed was hearing devices and sports. We talked about how to keep hearing devices in place and Topstick double-sided tape was the clear choice, followed closely by headbands, bandanas, and barrettes. We talked about the challenges of moisture and the importance of using a dry and store kit to reduce moisture. I thought the best piece of advice was having a clear bag to store all necessary hearing-device accessories, such as batteries and tape.
We discussed accommodations, which help an athlete participate in the sport. Both of our alumni use visual cues to assist with their sports, whether it is a visual indication of music starting, or a flag to show the gunshot start to a race. A remote microphone can be used during practices to help the athlete hear the coach over background noise. A remote microphone could also be used when judges critique and give scores for an ice skater’s performance.
One of the most important topics we discussed was working with coaches and teammates. Athletes must open a dialogue with their coaches to explain their hearing loss and how that affects their participation. Athletes should share the best ways to communicate with their coaches, such as having the coach consistently face the athlete, repeat information, and check for comprehension. Athletes should also share their hearing loss with their teammates so that they can help whenever necessary.
I am grateful to our alumni who shared their experiences with sports with us. If you are interested in watching this panel, you can watch it on Child’s Voice’s YouTube channel at this link.
