Water Safety for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Swimmers

Deaf and hard-of-hearing swimmers stay safe in the water the same way everyone does, with skills, supervision and life jackets, plus one extra layer: a communication plan that doesn't depend on sound. Give safety instructions before getting in, agree on visual signals, tell the lifeguard and instructor, and keep the swimmer where they can see the people watching them.

Most of the guidance on this page comes from the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), a national charity for deaf children in the United Kingdom, along with Deaf Children Australia and U.S. university and school sources. The safety principles apply anywhere.

Communication in the water

Pools and beaches run on sound: lifeguard whistles, shouted warnings, alarms and announcements. A deaf or hard-of-hearing swimmer may miss all of them, and the challenge grows when hearing devices come off.

• Devices often come off. NDCS notes that many swimmers remove their hearing technology while they're in the pool (opens in a new tab), which may mean using signs or writing things down instead.
• Emergencies are hardest. Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech warns that in an emergency, verbal cues may not be effective, especially if hearing devices have been removed for water play, or the environment is noisy (opens in a new tab).
• Supervision is still the main layer. Clarke says close, attentive visual supervision is the most important water safety measure for any child (opens in a new tab). CDC asks every adult watching children in water to supervise closely and constantly (opens in a new tab), and Pool Safely says to name a Water Watcher whose only task is supervising (opens in a new tab).

For the basics of watching children in water, see how to supervise kids around water.

Visual signals and rules

Before anyone gets in:

• Give all safety instructions first, while hearing aids or implants are still in. NDCS asks that all safety instructions are given before your child enters the pool (opens in a new tab).
• Agree on signals. Clarke suggests simple hand gestures, such as "come here" or "stop," set up before entering the water (opens in a new tab). Add "get out now" and "I need help." NDCS's toolkit says everyone should know what to do in an emergency, and to agree a visual signal (opens in a new tab).
• Practice the signals on the pool deck, then in shallow water, until they're automatic.

Getting attention in the water: NDCS suggests visual ways to get a deaf child's attention, such as waving hands, splashing the water or waving a flag (opens in a new tab).

Make the setting easier to read. The NDCS toolkit recommends that light shine on the speaker's face, not from behind (opens in a new tab), that the pool be well lit, and that teachers not cover their mouths or talk with a whistle in their mouth. Stay where your swimmer can see you.

Tell the lifeguard. NDCS says to tell the lifeguard that your child is deaf and may not hear a whistle or verbal instructions (opens in a new tab), so they know to use visual cues. In a new pool, ask staff for a tour and an explanation of emergency arrangements and visual cues, for example for a wave machine starting. At parties, tell the organizer and lifeguards, and agree on a clear emergency system.

Ask about the pool's alarm. The NDCS toolkit asks pools whether they have an auditory or visual emergency signal, or both (opens in a new tab), and whether everyone knows what it means.

Lessons and instructors

Learning to swim matters just as much for deaf children, and lessons can be made deaf-friendly. Before lessons begin, NDCS suggests that you:

• Talk to the teacher and explain how your child likes to communicate (opens in a new tab). Older children can take the lead themselves.
• Discuss whether a sign language interpreter or communication support is needed. (In the United States, that would usually be an American Sign Language interpreter.)
• Decide together whether a large class, a small group or one-on-one lessons will work best.
• Watch how the teacher coaches. Gestures and visual demonstrations help.
• Make sure the teacher knows your child may not hear a shout or whistle, and agree on visual ways to get their attention.
• Ask the teacher to position your child where they can see each other clearly throughout the lesson.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests asking to watch a class first (opens in a new tab) and choosing instructors certified through a nationally recognized learn-to-swim curriculum. Share the NDCS Deaf-friendly swimming toolkit (opens in a new tab) with your child's teacher. For more on finding a program, see adaptive swim lessons and how to choose a swim lesson program.

For competitive swimmers, NDCS notes that races often start with a buzzer or starting pistol, and that some clubs use a tap on the leg or a system of lights (opens in a new tab) to signal the start for deaf swimmers.

Devices and swimming

Every device and every person is different, so your audiologist is the right person to ask. General points from NDCS and the University of Connecticut's HELLO Lab:

• Most hearing aids aren't made for swimming. NDCS says most are water resistant, meaning they can handle sweat or rain, but they should not be fully immersed in water (opens in a new tab). The UConn HELLO Lab notes that most hearing aids and bone-anchored devices are not waterproof (opens in a new tab) and should come off before swimming.
• Some implants have waterproof options. NDCS and UConn both note that some cochlear implant processors have waterproof covers or accessories. Ask your audiologist whether one is available for your device.
• Store devices dry. NDCS suggests a waterproof bag or dry box (opens in a new tab) at the pool.
• If a device gets wet, UConn suggests taking it off, taking the battery out if you can, drying it in a drying container, and contacting your audiologist (opens in a new tab).
• Ear tubes or recent ear surgery? Ask your child's surgeon or audiologist whether and how they can swim, and about ear protection.

Plan for communication without devices, because that's when your signals matter most.

Calling for help

At any pool or beach, the watcher should have a phone and know how to give the exact location. In New York City, Text-to-911 (opens in a new tab) lets you text 911 if you can't safely call. The city says to always call if you can and text only if you can't, and to say that you are Deaf. See calling 911 near water.

What you can do today

1. Choose four signals with your swimmer: stop, come here, get out, and I need help. Practice them tonight.
2. Write a short note for the lifeguard and teacher explaining how your swimmer communicates and the signals you use.
3. Make your swimmer easy to spot. Deaf Children Australia suggests dressing a child in bright, easily distinguishable colours (opens in a new tab) to make direct supervision easier at a busy pool or beach.
4. Ask your audiologist which devices can get wet, and pack a dry box for the next pool trip.
5. Share the NDCS toolkit with your child's swim teacher.