Paintballing With a Hearing Aid

Raynman · 09-25-2006, 01:28 AM

So my girlfriend wants to give paintballing a shot. She's hearing impaired and pretty much can't hear unless you put your mouth in her ear when she's not wearing her hearing aids.

Should she wear them on the field at all? Is there a way of protecting them while still allowing the hearing aids to function?

I was just wondering if you guys have ever had any experiences with this, being hearing impaired yourself, playing alongside deaf players, or seeing someone on the field wearing a hearing aid?

Thanks,
Rayn

Firestorm · 09-25-2006, 01:47 AM

Not something i've come across before.

I'd say go for a google that covers the whole head, hard plastic. I mean most fairly good ear protection. However i'd say the more the better.

Also I know that a shot to the hear leaves a ringing in mine... if that gets amplafied with a hearing aid. Just some food for thought I guess.

Brewtt · 09-25-2006, 02:47 AM

I would encourage her to try.

First I would test her mask set up with her hearing aids in. I suggest putting the mask on and have her lightly slap the ear area to simulate a paintball hit. Increase the slapping until it is about what a paintball would sound like. She can adjust to a level that will be comfortable if she receives a direct hit on the ear piece.

If you are worried about paint getting into the hearing aides then you can cover the ear piece vents with Saran-Wrap or plastic.

Tell her good luck and she ROCKS!

Z50 · 09-25-2006, 02:54 AM

Make sure that it will NOT fall out, try having her do some sort of agility test in a controlled environment to see if it will come loose, you would not want to try to find a hearing aid on a paintball field if it were dislodged. She probably won't go all out like some of us in her first game but if she catches a root or lands hard in a bunker it’s always a possibility.

Schmitti · 09-25-2006, 11:43 AM

I agree with the above! Let her see if it can work for her. Heck if hearing impaired folks can scuba dive with modified aids... then they can certainly play paintball!

E

Raynman · 09-25-2006, 11:58 AM

I'm more worried about getting paint on the hearing aid, or the impact damaging it. The sound thing isn't really an issue, she said loud noises hurt her just as much as they would me.

Falling out isn't really an issue because it's one of those ones that sits behind the ear and comes over. She runs with it all the time, and it's fitted to her ear.

thanks for all the suggestions so far. And I will let her know she rocks

Schmitti · 09-25-2006, 12:05 PM

Yeah definately let her know she rocks! Support her desicion to play and make sure not to give her a hard time or let her feel bad if it's not for her.

You are being really cool trying to find a way to get things to work though!

E

PS - When I was a senior in HS, many moons ago, we had a guy on our Cross Country team who was seriously hearing impaired.. his hearing aid let him hear noise... that was pretty much it

But he was one of the best damn runners I knew and most of made sure to adapt ourselves to help him out... there were only a few on the team that I had to pull aside and slap around a bit until they "understood" how to behave... ignorant bastards.

Chaos · 09-25-2006, 08:06 PM

I would highly recommend a mask with rigid ear coverings to prevent damage to the hearing aids.You can always cover up some of the vent holes with something to prevent paint from getting in there.I have an old JT Elite (Xfire) that would be well suited for this,I have no use for it.If you need to buy a mask for her and are interested let me know.

Uranus · 09-25-2006, 10:38 PM

I would leave them out. I play with a lot of hand signals, just keep her close.

QBNVIPER · 09-29-2006, 12:26 AM

My son wears hearing aids on both sides. He is 13. He has gone out with me for both speedball and scenario games. We have yet to have a problem. Most masks have ear protection anyway. Unless you are shot from behind with a headshot it would be tough to take a shot on the hearing aid itself. i say tell her to go for it.

BTW, my 8 year old is hearing impaired also, he uses a cochlear implant. He is begging to play. He's going to start next spring.

Good luck.

PS. My son has also played full contact football with his hearing aids on for the past 5 years. No problems.

09-25-2006, 01:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raynman Seasoned Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Durham, NC	Paintballing With a Hearing Aid So my girlfriend wants to give paintballing a shot. She's hearing impaired and pretty much can't hear unless you put your mouth in her ear when she's not wearing her hearing aids. Should she wear them on the field at all? Is there a way of protecting them while still allowing the hearing aids to function? I was just wondering if you guys have ever had any experiences with this, being hearing impaired yourself, playing alongside deaf players, or seeing someone on the field wearing a hearing aid? Thanks, Rayn

09-25-2006, 01:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Firestorm Active Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto On, Canada	Not something i've come across before. I'd say go for a google that covers the whole head, hard plastic. I mean most fairly good ear protection. However i'd say the more the better. Also I know that a shot to the hear leaves a ringing in mine... if that gets amplafied with a hearing aid. Just some food for thought I guess. __________________ UBIQUE QUO FAS ET GLORIA DU****

09-25-2006, 02:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brewtt CHEERS! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern California	I would encourage her to try. First I would test her mask set up with her hearing aids in. I suggest putting the mask on and have her lightly slap the ear area to simulate a paintball hit. Increase the slapping until it is about what a paintball would sound like. She can adjust to a level that will be comfortable if she receives a direct hit on the ear piece. If you are worried about paint getting into the hearing aides then you can cover the ear piece vents with Saran-Wrap or plastic. Tell her good luck and she ROCKS! __________________ Dabbling in the recreational paintball arts since 1991.

09-25-2006, 08:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chaos I'm Comin' To Getcha! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hudson,MA	I would highly recommend a mask with rigid ear coverings to prevent damage to the hearing aids.You can always cover up some of the vent holes with something to prevent paint from getting in there.I have an old JT Elite (Xfire) that would be well suited for this,I have no use for it.If you need to buy a mask for her and are interested let me know. __________________ Chaos PoG Member # 1018 LPPC Member #71 NO'MAAM #5 My Gallery My Feedback I'm looking to buy these style JT Gloves

09-29-2006, 12:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
QBNVIPER Newbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fort Lee, NJ	My son wears hearing aids on both sides. He is 13. He has gone out with me for both speedball and scenario games. We have yet to have a problem. Most masks have ear protection anyway. Unless you are shot from behind with a headshot it would be tough to take a shot on the hearing aid itself. i say tell her to go for it. BTW, my 8 year old is hearing impaired also, he uses a cochlear implant. He is begging to play. He's going to start next spring. Good luck. PS. My son has also played full contact football with his hearing aids on for the past 5 years. No problems. Last edited by QBNVIPER; 09-29-2006 at 12:36 AM.

09-25-2006, 11:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Schmitti Red=Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schen. NY	I agree with the above! Let her see if it can work for her. Heck if hearing impaired folks can scuba dive with modified aids... then they can certainly play paintball! E

09-25-2006, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Raynman Seasoned Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Durham, NC	I'm more worried about getting paint on the hearing aid, or the impact damaging it. The sound thing isn't really an issue, she said loud noises hurt her just as much as they would me. Falling out isn't really an issue because it's one of those ones that sits behind the ear and comes over. She runs with it all the time, and it's fitted to her ear. thanks for all the suggestions so far. And I will let her know she rocks

09-25-2006, 12:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Schmitti Red=Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schen. NY	Yeah definately let her know she rocks! Support her desicion to play and make sure not to give her a hard time or let her feel bad if it's not for her. You are being really cool trying to find a way to get things to work though! E PS - When I was a senior in HS, many moons ago, we had a guy on our Cross Country team who was seriously hearing impaired.. his hearing aid let him hear noise... that was pretty much it But he was one of the best damn runners I knew and most of made sure to adapt ourselves to help him out... there were only a few on the team that I had to pull aside and slap around a bit until they "understood" how to behave... ignorant bastards.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search