Can People with Cochlear Implants Go Swimming? It Is Possible
Can you swim with a cochlear implant? The good news is, yes, you can! Not only can you swim in a saltwater or chlorine water pool, but you can also swim in the ocean. But to do this, you have to get a waterproof cochlear implant, so that it will not sustain any damage.
In the past, we have seen that it’s possible to swim even when you have certain challenges.
Here are posts we wrote in the past detailing how you can swim with certain challenges:
Can you swim in the ocean with yeast infection?
Do tampons absorb water when swimming
But first:
What is a cochlear implant, and how does it work?
Before we can find out the answer to the question of: Can you swim with a cochlear implant? we need to know what this implant is.
People with minor or minimal hearing loss can use hearing aids (which amplify sound) to communicate. However, as the hearing loss advances, perhaps with age, a Cochlear implant becomes the best option.
This is an electronic device that stimulates the auditory nerve. The implant, which the doctor places under your skin, will pick up the signals. It will transmit them to the auditory nerve.
In return, the nerve sends these signals to the brain, which interprets them as sound, and you can decipher the message.
As you can see, it is a very advanced device for people with hearing problems. Other devices pick up sound and amplify it. But this one passes over the damaged parts of the inner ear and goes straight to the auditory nerve.
One thing to note is that this device helps a deaf person to hear. However, it doesn’t bring back your hearing. In addition, it takes some time to learn to understand the signals without reading lips.
Can you wear your implants in the water?
Can you swim with a cochlear implant or, as some people ask on the web, can you swim underwater with the cochlear implant under your skin?
Yes, you can. This is implanted under the skin, and your skin is waterproof. Thus, the implant is safe.
However, there is the little matter of how soon you should swim after getting the cochlear implant. This is something you will have to discuss with your doctor. It is vital that you don’t swim before the doctor says you can.
There is something to note, though … The under-the-skin implant stays dry even if you swim in the ocean. Then there is the external processor that’s behind the ear to capture sounds. It can be waterproof or not.
You can check with the supplier of the external processor to find out whether it is waterproof. If it is, you can swim with it. If it is not, remove it before swimming.
Can a child swim with a cochlear implant?
If your child has a hearing impairment, they can still enjoy swimming. Once you teach the child how to swim, you can see how their confidence will start building up.
If a child with no disability benefits from swimming, you can imagine how much more a child with hearing problems will enjoy swimming. It boosts their self-esteem a great deal.
Besides, swimming is important for survival. You never know when they will need to put this skill to use to save themselves. Hopefully, that won’t come up, but no one can tell.
Since the external processor is held in place with a headrest, you can remove it so that your child can enjoy all water activities, including the spa.
Please note that any hearing aid marked as water-resistant is not necessarily waterproof. Water resistance means it can only withstand a given exposure to water. If it is waterproof, you can swim with it.
It is best to make earplugs a must-have when your child, or you are swimming. It is possible to have water get into the ear, even into the cochlear, which is the innermost part.
Besides, if you let water get into your ear, you can experience ear pain after swimming. It is vital that you don’t let that happen by wearing earplugs.
Can you get these implants wet?
Of course, swimming with the cochlear external processor on will make it wet. However, if it’s waterproof, the water is not going to cause damage.
If there is rain, you need not remove the external sound processor. By design, it should sustain damage from rainwater.
Also, it is possible to sweat profusely when you engage in extreme activity. The sweat can get into the processor.
The manufacturers designed these implants with the sweat factor in mind. Besides, you can always check the microphone covers and change them if necessary.
What happens if your implant gets wet?
If you get your cochlear external processor wet, you can dry it in two ways. First, you can use a clean piece of cloth to dry it. Secondly, you can plug it into its charger. It is going to dry up all right?
If you have your cochlear implant wet, just follow the steps above to dry it. However, if you are apprehensive about swimming with your waterproof cochlear implant, you can remove the external processor. Keep it in a waterproof bag until you are done swimming.
Safe swimming with this implant
If you love swimming, and you have a cochlear implant, you need some tips to keep it safe.
First, determine whether you really want to swim with the external sound processor, even if it is waterproof. If you are not sure, just remove the device and place it in a waterproof bag.
You can also swim with the external sound processor on if you can wear a latex or silicone swimming cap. This is going to go over the processor and the headrest, and it will keep the water out.
We would recommend buying the best swimming cap to keep water out of your hair and ears. When swimming in the pool, you create a lot of splashes, and it is hard to keep your ears dry.
To keep water out of your ears, wear earplugs for swimming.
Conclusion
The best thing is to ask the doctor how soon you can swim after the minor surgery of implanting the cochlear implant.
Usually, they recommend waiting for a week or more. I would give myself a couple of weeks to be doubly sure that the place heals completely.
Always remove the external sound processor of your cochlear implant, whether it is waterproof or not. That will not require changing the microphone covers. If you keep your cochlear device wet for too long, it can sustain damage.