Handling Hearing Loss

[OffTheLineFox]

I just got into para shooting recently but have had the honor of being able to train with coaches at the OTC and attending a training camp with Bob Foth this week. I have a spinal cord injury but the question that can't seem to be answered is how hearing loss can be handled. I have a moderate hearing loss from birth. I wear hearing aids on an everyday basis but not while shooting. In my first mock match, which we did final style I was missing announcements. Even without hearing protection and them using the PA system. I thought the way this would be handled would be a certified interpreter. I would think once I got to a more competitive level that would be provided by the hosting place so it is a non-bias person, similar to the loaders that are provided for SH2 shooters. Some say just to watch the timer, but what if there is a stop called and guns made safe for a safety reason or other announcements. In the qualifiers waiting to hear another shot fired is not bad but in finals I'm losing precious time. I know I'm not the only one with hearing loss that shoots but I can't seem to find a clear answer. (FYI Bob Foth is not sure and there is nothing listed in the IPC rule books)

[Albert T]

Try to contact Ferrol van Hoeven. He is an international IPC jury member from the Netherlands. He can give you much more info about the issue.
He has his own company that fabricates supports (IPC approved) for disabled persons. You can try to contact him at: info@parasporttools.eu

Albert T (The Netherlands)

[Marc Orvin]

You say you wear hearing aids normally, but not for shooting. Why?? If you are having problems hearing the range commands, you need to wear your hearing aids.

The event organizer should not have to provide help for you when you already have a means of hearing the range commands. If you are concerned about distractions (the reason most folks wear hearing protection while shooting air guns), just turn down your hearing aids to the point you can hear the range commands and yet still block out the distracting noises.

Perhaps I am missing something here and will readily stand corrected if that is the case.

[OffTheLineFox]

I don't wear the hearing aids while shooting because even the sound level of air guns can damage hearing. Second you cannot just turn them down enough to hear announcements and not hear other things. Hearing everything, even in daily life is mentally exhausting because I lived most of my life not heading them. Also you cannot have anything that transmits or receives sound which my hearing aids do both. Hearing aid technology is extremely advanced. I can put a Mic on someone else and have it piped directly into my hearing aids via Bluetooth. I don't know if any of that makes sense for someone who doesn't wear hearing aids or have hearing aids. Also with my hearing loss there's still no guarantee that I don't miss a one word announcement with hearing aids. They help but are not a miracle fix. They simply increase volume in the frequencies I can hear, kind of like an equalizer board. Some frequencies are gone all together

[Spencer]

You say you wear hearing aids normally, but not for shooting. Why?? If you are having problems hearing the range commands, you need to wear your hearing aids...

1 shooting without hearing protection will damage (what is remaining of) your hearing.
2 shooting with hearing protection over hearing aids is an interesting experience that is not recommended you try a second time (personal experience)
3 electronic hearing protection is a workable solution for those with less than profound hearing loss - boosts the sound, but cuts off when loud sound is encountered.

there is also a problem for those of us with hearing loss when the RO has a voice in the higher frequency range. For most, the hearing loss is worse in the higher frequencies.

[OffTheLineFox]

there is also a problem for those of us with hearing loss when the RO has a voice in the higher frequency range. For most, the hearing loss is worse in the higher frequencies.[/quote]

My hearing loss is from birth so it it's actually in the loss frequencies i.e. males voices. Since my parents did not allow me to wear aids growing up I have learned to compensate by body language, facial expression, my mind processes the words it hears in a statement and fills in the blanks. This actually makes it much easier to miss 1 word commands. It's not just that it may not be clear. In final type shooting I have missed the start command multiple times and lose time waiting to hear the first shot

[Marc Orvin]

As I stated in my original post, if I am missing something, I will readily stand corrected. So here I stand; Corrected.

I hope something comes along to assist you in your situation.

Marc

[xtreme]

I have had hearing aids for about 6 months [should have had them years ago].
I wear the electronic ear-protection over my Behind-the-ear aids. I am fortunate that it doesn't get the feedback that Spencer is probably referring to.
BUT all hearing aids are different, so may not work covered.
Experimenting with the volume of both, and I can achieve good result. Usually aid volume down, and muffs up.
The aids address the frequency problem of those with hearing loss, and the electronic hearing protection can be adjusted for volume.

[Thomas Monto]

We have several shooters in our league that have hearing issues.
First thing is to let the RO or officials know that you have an issue.
Second if you shoot in a large match many times the safety talk is given just before the relay starts and you need to be ablr to hear it.
For our shooters who have hearing issues we have hand signals starting the relay. If a cease fire or stop command is given the shooter is tapped on the leg or shoulder to get their attention and then the hand signal to stop is given.

No big problem, just let prople know you have a hearing issue and work something out.