Top Tips For Skiing With Hearing Loss

In the winter months, the ski slopes are the place to be. Well, when we say ski slopes, we mean sitting by a warm fire in a ski lodge drinking mulled wine, looking out at the skiing fields and basking in the serenity.

The point is, when the temperatures are low and the snow is high, one of the best things to do is to go skiing. But what if you love to ski and also have hearing loss? How does that affect things?

The short answer is that it shouldn’t really impact your enjoyment any more than it would most other activities. Despite this, there are a few things you should be aware of.

If you have untreated hearing loss, you may also be suffering from undiagnosed balance issues, and given that skiing is mostly about balance, this may cause some problems for you. If you think you or someone you know could be experiencing undiagnosed hearing loss, you should book in a session with an audiologist as soon as possible. The longer you leave things, the more damage you may be doing to yourself.

Most brands of hearing aid will need to be kept dry, and skiing is actually a water sport, when you think about it, so keeping your hearing aids dry will be a challenge. Newer hearing aids, such as the Lyric, are actually designed to be worn for longer periods and are better at dealing with moisture than older models.

If your hearing loss is pronounced, you may need a ski instructor trained in communicating with people with hearing loss. Many slopes offer instructors who are versed in sign language so it’s worth finding out which do and which do not before you book your trip.

While you may never be as good as Elena Yakovishina, an Olympic skier from Russia who wears hearing aids for balance when she skis, none of this should deter you from enjoying your run on the slopes.