“Don’t step into the kitchen!” someone called across the net during my first pickleball clinic.
That’s easy for me in everyday life—I don’t like to cook. But in pickleball, the “kitchen” isn’t a room in your house. It’s the non-volley zone near the net, and stepping into it while hitting a ball out of the air is against the rules.
Welcome to pickleball: a sport with its own vocabulary, culture, and a few unique challenges for those of us with hearing loss.
Accessible — But Not Without Challenges
Like most sports, pickleball is highly visual. You track the ball, watch your opponent, and read body language to anticipate what comes next.
For someone with hearing loss, that visual awareness can be a real advantage.
But the game isn’t silent.
The score is announced before every serve. Players shout “Mine!” or “Yours!” on shots down the middle. And balls are often called in or out by voice.
If you miss these calls—as sometimes happens with hearing loss—you and your partner may both hesitate for a split second and watch the ball land untouched between you. I’ve done it more than once. But so do people with typical hearing. Most of the time, everyone laughs and moves on.
Drop-in pickleball adds complexity because you’re often paired with strangers, each with a different voice and communication style. Fortunately, the pickleball community tends to be warm and welcoming. I’ve yet to meet a partner who wasn’t accommodating once they understood what I needed.
Tips for Playing Pickleball with Hearing Loss
After spending time on the courts, here are a few strategies that help:
- Be upfront early
Before the first serve, let your partner and opponents know you have hearing loss to prevent confusion later—especially when a quick “Mine!” or “Yours!” goes unheard. - Trust your eyes
People with hearing loss are often skilled visual communicators. That ability helps on the court, too. Watching how opponents position their paddle or shift their weight often reveals their next move before the ball is hit. - Ask for a raised arm on out calls
Many players already do this, but it’s worth requesting. A raised hand paired with the call gives you two channels of information instead of one. - Reconfirm the score when needed
With two servers and a fast pace, even players with typical hearing lose track of the score. When it’s your turn to serve, there’s nothing wrong with double-checking. - Think about your devices
A headband can keep hearing aids or cochlear implants secure during active play while also buffering wind noise. - Give yourself grace
Missing a score call or hesitating on a center shot isn’t a hearing loss failure—it’s just pickleball. These moments happen to every player at every level.
Why It’s Worth It
Pickleball is one of the most inclusive sports I’ve encountered, drawing players of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels. The social side of the game can feel intimidating at first for people with hearing loss, but once you settle in, the camaraderie on and off the court becomes one of its greatest rewards.
These days, when someone shouts “Don’t step into the kitchen!” across the net, I know exactly what they mean.
And I’m ready for the next point.
Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of We Hear You, an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her book, Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, (co-authored with Gael Hannan) is the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story, she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues. Connect with Shari: Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.
