Diving for the Deaf

[vulcan]

Firstly, that's how they described themselves so appologies if the terminology causes offence to anyone.

I've had an enquiry from a potential student who say they are deaf in one ear. They give no other information than this.

I've had no experience of this so can only advise the usual, if in doubt see a GP, but was wondering what potential problems a persons deafness may cause.

I have seen a girl dive on holiday who had a hearing aid and she wore one of those masks with the ear cups....didn't afect her diving at all.

Any thoughts would be greatly received...

[ScubaSue]

Originally Posted by vulcan

Firstly, that's how they described themselves so appologies if the terminology causes offence to anyone.

I've had an enquiry from a potential student who say they are deaf in one ear. They give no other information than this.

I've had no experience of this so can only advise the usual, if in doubt see a GP, but was wondering what potential problems a persons deafness may cause.

I have seen a girl dive on holiday who had a hearing aid and she wore one of those masks with the ear cups....didn't afect her diving at all.

Any thoughts would be greatly received...

There are at least two dimensions to this I would have thought .. one is the physical effect, the second would be the communication aspect.

I'll leave the physical aspect to one side as I wouldn't even like to pretend to understand the physiology of deafness.

However, the communication side, I have a friend who learned to speak BSL (with a view to instructing) - I'll pick his brains and get back to you.

[vulcan]

Originally Posted by ScubaSue

I'll pick his brains and get back to you.

Thanks Sue, as you've noticed, I'm still not working or studying!!!

YD 'll get me fired!!!!!!

Still, more time for diving then

[ScubaSue]

Originally Posted by vulcan

Thanks Sue, as you've noticed, I'm still not working or studying!!!

YD 'll get me fired!!!!!!

Still, more time for diving then

No I'm still not working either, trouble is it will be difficult for me to fire myself - I would have to run around my desk, firstly to give myself a 'telling off' for misappropriation of company time, and then run around the other side to accept my 'telling off' and apologise for it.

[MATTBIN]

There was a thread along these lines on Handbag a while back, basically it indicated that deaf people can use sign language underwater to far better effect than 'standard' sign language divers normally use so comms should be much better between those that use sign language. The lady concerned also said it was no problem underwater from a physical point of view, this may have been her 'cause' only though. Where there seemed to be some 'issues' was in the dry side briefing, although if your buddy is partially deaf only this may not be a problem, I should have thought if they are profoundly deaf then lip reading would come into play. I know a guy, a mates brother, who dives and he uses lip reading, obviously you have to be facing him. With the greatest respect the major problem for me was understanding him, although he spoke, his words werent easily understood by me and required patience and understanding on my part, being not blessed with perfect hearing anymore myself (age and motorbikes I'm afraid).

Matt

[AndyG]

A couple of guys that are totally deaf from birth dive with us regularly. They have no probs at all and have the beauty that they can communicate much better than us that can hear underwater.
Andy

[Simon A]

I cant say for every deaf person. But one of my regular dive buddies is deaf.
A deaf person wanting to dive needs to see their GP and get a medical, some forms of deafness leave the ears unable to cope with the presure change.
When actualy diving it's not that bad, on the surface you need to remember to touch them on the arm so that they face you before speaking (someone who is deaf in one ear is more likely to lipread to fill the gaps, rather than use BSL). Underwater there's no difference to diving with a "normal person" (although I have to remember banging on the tank to atract my buddy doesn't work), but my friend is unable to descend quickly (takes up to 3 min to descend the first 10m, from there on it's fine)

HTH
Simon A

[AirAssisted]

Just to echo the points above, physically this should not be a problem, depending upon the cause of the deafness - once a GP has given the all clear then they are good to go. Teaching may require a little more effort on the surface, but again this is dependant on the degree of deafness. Underwater the 'art' of sign language will come into its own, and people who can 'sign' would leave the rest of us scribbling hastliy on wetnotes! 'Did you see that cuttlefish behind the small green rock' would be easy to say ... non signing people would miss it!

Brightly coloured gloves would be a real bonus here also, in low viz or dark conditions, the standard black gloves would be a hinderence. Signing also comes in handy in a few aspects of everyday life, nightclubs, across crowded room etc etc.

Ian

[resting rifleman]

had a hearing impaired (deaf) chap aboard midweek, no problem at all, his clubmates were all obviously very familiar and the only change to the routine onboard was that a buddy gave him a tap on the shoulder when i said GO!

[LisaR]

There was/is a profoundly deaf lady who learnt to dive with our local club with no problems at all. Infact she was one of the best students the club had had.
My O H is deaf. He has had 2 mastoid ops so wont risk getting in water for fear of getting an ear infection.
We are all "deaf" underwater & resort to hand signals.
Being deaf isnt a problem for most divers.