Going to an indoor waterpark when you have hearing loss can seem daunting. Many hearing devices aren’t waterproof, and even if they are, the chance of losing them on a waterslide is high. The lack of tools can make a hard hearing environment feel impossible. Waterparks are so very loud. All the rides and waves make for cacophonous background noise. Add in children shrieking everywhere, and it can feel like a hearing nightmare.

When I recently attended an indoor waterpark, it definitely was as hard to hear as I expected. To my surprise, I actually succeeded in my communication interactions pretty well. In fact, I realized that other hearing family members were struggling to comprehend much more than I was.

This was because I have learned so many adaptive skills to assist with my hearing loss. I know to face people as I speak. I lean into speech reading (both reading lips and using body language cues). I have a good sense of when it is too loud for successful conversations or when someone is too far away to be heard. I have practice advocating for a better hearing location for a more in-depth conversation.

I also relied on my hearing family to help me with interactions with strangers. If I needed to talk with a staff member, I asked someone to handle it for me, knowing that I would struggle more to understand someone that I was not familiar with. Sometimes, just giving myself permission to not have to interact makes me feel better about the situation.

Besides using all of my hearing loss conversation hygiene skills, I made it through my waterpark experience by going in with realistic expectations. I knew it would be hard and fatiguing, so I planned accordingly. I focused on enjoying everyone having fun and lowered my conversation expectations. I also gave myself permission to call it a day early and retreat to a quiet space after a day filled with noise.

Regarding balance issues, I typically do very well in water. I find the extra dimension of water very forgiving. My only struggle with balance type issues at the waterpark was when the waterslide used strobe lights. I find strobe lights make me very nauseous and dizzy. So I made sure to read the warning label on each slide and skip any that list flashing lights.

All in all, I had a great time. As I expected, I was exhausted by the end of the day and very ready for some quiet. However, my hearing family members were all tired too, so I guess that is an unexpected trade-off for a day of fun in the water.

In general, with many kid friendly activities like this, I find that hearing is challenging. I decide based on each individual event and location if the activity is worth the cost in hearing fatigue. I obviously want my children to have a fun and full childhood, but that does not mean I have to say yes to every invitation. If mom is miserable, no one will be happy. Something like a waterpark I find I can enjoy in small doses. Most of the fun does not hinge on perfect communication, and I am able to participate and enjoy.