Hearing underwater as a partially deaf diver

[scubamickey]

I'm wondering if there are any deaf or partially deaf divers here. I am stone deaf in my right ear. I suddenly lost my hearing about 7 years ago and it is a profound loss (170db). For anyone who is interested, it's called Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Happens to about 1 in 100,000 people and has no known cause (thus the idiopathic title).

At any rate, I have a hard time with directional hearing since I only have one working ear.
It's kind of hard for me to hear what direction sounds are coming from and this is doubly true underwater. I can't hear the roar of a small boat engine starting up unless I'm right near it.

It's not really a problem, but I was wondering if other divers with hearing loss ever feel frustrated by this. How do you compensate?

 

[scubamickey]

OK then...
Thanks for the help everybody.

 

[H2Andy]

didn't see it the first time around

don't worry... even people with perfect hearing (moi) can't tell where
crap is coming from underwater. sound just travels too fast underwater
for our brains to register the difference in sound arrival time (i.e. to the
left and right ear). thus, the brain registers them as arriving at
the same time, and we can't figure out where the sound is coming from.


however, you do notice changes in volume as the engine is getting closer
and/or moving away from you. so if an engine is getting "louder" that means
it's headed in your general direction.

 

[Frank Hayes]

OK then...
Thanks for the help everybody.

Yo Just saw the Post. Dont get Pissy. Next time post thread as Naked DIR Mask on Forehead Ear Problem You picked the best life style for your body. The most Humbling Thing about being human is being Human. Find A couple of good Dive buddies and Dive Dive Dive. Just another guys 2 cents with different ills. Only the soul makes it threw the pearly gates. Use it up (Body) and spit it out before entering.

 

[TekDiveGirl]

Well - I didn't see this post either.

I don't hear too well either. As a matter of fact I wear hearing aids in both ears. One thing I like about diving -- being hearing impaired makes no difference underwater because we don't talk down there anyway!

When I have to use the "Buddy phone" for the shark dives I have a really hard time. I put it on my better ear (hah!) and I have to stop breathing -- he also has to repeat himself -- and sometimes I still can't make out what is being said to me.

Boats -- and other noise -- I don't know if I have ever heard them underwater. If I have -- I don't think I have ever paid attention. I look when surfacing for them of course -- but have not heard them.

Kimber

 

[RumBum]

I think that being underwater should be an "equalizer" for your problem. Sound travels 4 times faster underwater than on land. Our brains cannot compensate for this discrepency, therefore all sounds seem to reach both ears simultaneously. Even divers with bilateral normal hearing cannot distinguish which direction a sound came from when underwater.

I frequently dive in a shallow lake that has a lot of boat traffic who use trolling motors. Although I have normal hearing on land, I am consantly craning my neck to keep a lookout for boats - they can sneak up on you and you'll never hear a thing. My husband wears a hood sometimes and can't hear a thing through it on land or underwater.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

What RumBum said. Hearing should be no problem, really. Most communications that take place underwater, are via hand-signals, and you are (hopefully) able to keep your buddy within sight. Occasionally, someone might bang on their tank to get someone's attention, and your dive computer might beep if you're nearing your preset limit on air consumption. Aside from those things, which are very distinct sounds, your hearing loss shouldn't be an issue. Good luck!

 

[TekDiveGirl]

What RumBum said. Hearing should be no problem, really. Most communications that take place underwater, are via hand-signals, and you are (hopefully) able to keep your buddy within sight. Occasionally, someone might bang on their tank to get someone's attention, and your dive computer might beep if you're nearing your preset limit on air consumption. Aside from those things, which are very distinct sounds, your hearing loss shouldn't be an issue. Good luck!

My dive computer beeps?!?!?! He he he!

I have never had any hearing related issues when diving. To me thats one of the beauties of diving --- the lack of outside noises.

Kimber

 

[eiresorpio]

I am stone deaf in both ears but hearing things underwater is the last thing i would worry about! The beauty of being deaf is the sign language itself where i can simply sign away and have a conversation with a fellow buddy (provided that s/he can sign!)

 

[rixemailfl]

The dive shop where I work part time has an instructor who is completely deaf.

It works out great because there is a school for the deaf just down the road from the shop too. They end up having 1 to 2 classes of deaf divers each year.

The fact that they don't have to rely on just the "diver's hand signals" while underwater seems almost unfair to those of us that can actually hear. In a way I suppose...