advice for the hearing impaired

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[Avery Jenkins]

As the result of a shooting accident, I've lost the majority of my hearing in both ears. Getting fitted for hearing aids next week, they are likely to be behind-the-ear hearing aids rather than in-the-canal hearing aids.

I don't know whether I'll be able to wear them in class, I rather doubt it. So far, Sensei and my dojo mates have been making do pretty well. I've been training with Sensei for many years, I can pretty much get her groove even when I can't make out the words, so that helps. But I was wondering if any other hearing-impared aikidoka might have some good advice for me.

[Michael Hackett]

We had a visiting student a few years ago, a lady who wore the behind-the-ear hearing aids. She didn't appear to have any trouble at all taking falls and rolls. We didn't discuss it with her, but there was apparently nothing holding them in place beyond their design. I hope they work for you on and off the mat.