A Review on Visuals and Tactile Communication Strategies in Combat Sports for Deaf Athletes

This paper examines the challenges and solutions related to the inclusion of Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HoH) athletes in combat sports, particularly focusing on karate, judo, and taekwondo. These sports rely heavily on auditory cues for officiating and timing, which presents significant barriers for D/HoH athletes. Through a detailed review of existing practices, technologies, and governing policies which include adaptations in the Deaflympics, study identifies current gaps in standardization and accessibility. Emerging technologies such as haptic feedback systems and visual signaling devices are analyzed for their effectiveness and feasibility. By comparing existing assistive strategies across disciplines, the paper proposes sport-specific recommendations aimed at improving equity, performance, and safety for Deaf athletes. The findings highlight the urgent need for unified officiating protocols, inclusive coaching methods, and scalable technology-driven interventions to foster a more accessible combat sports ecosystem.