Anybody been diving with a Cochlear Implantee?

[old gaffer]

I posted this on the Special Needs community forum and got zero replies so I thought I would ask here. Has any diver or dive shop owner (Dave, Christie) had any cochlear implant recipients as customers or as a fellow diver on the dive boat? I put off getting an implant as long as I could because of my love for diving. CI manufacturers will not warranty their implants for diving but have finally done some testing in the chamber without any failures. DAN doc's say to stay above 100ft. Still would like to know if anyone has any first hand experience with someone diving with one.

I was implanted in my best ear (30% residual hearing left) I plan on getting my worst ear implanted next (0% word recognition with minimal residual hearing left). I was implanted in October and it is a work in progress. Voices are very unnatural robotic and high pitched but I can hear them. All my Christmas CD's might as well be Alvin and the Chipmunks! Really miss listening to Gordons Crystal Flavola CD. They say music is the last thing to improve with the implant. I was told not to even think about diving for at least 3 months post OP. I do feed and cleans at the Duluth Great Lakes Aquarium so that will probably be my first dive with the implant which will be a good place to test it seeing as it is only 24' deep.


Gaffer (Tom)

 

[DandyDon]

You may want to ask in the Medical forum: Diving Medicine

 

[Christi]

Sorry - I am not aware of any clients that have implants! I hope you do find some answers!!! We'd love to have you back on board as soon as possible! Best of luck!

Try the medical forum as Don suggested! I will try to see what I can find out as well. This is also new to me!

 

[Scubabun]

Hi Old Gaffer!

I would check with DAN. If they don't have an answer, this may be a good topic for them to investigate.

 

[vladimir]

I posted this on the Special Needs community forum and got zero replies so I thought I would ask here. Has any diver or dive shop owner (Dave, Christie) had any cochlear implant recipients as customers or as a fellow diver on the dive boat? I put off getting an implant as long as I could because of my love for diving. CI manufacturers will not warranty their implants for diving but have finally done some testing in the chamber without any failures. DAN doc's say to stay above 100ft. Still would like to know if anyone has any first hand experience with someone diving with one.

I was implanted in my best ear (30% residual hearing left) I plan on getting my worst ear implanted next (0% word recognition with minimal residual hearing left). I was implanted in October and it is a work in progress. Voices are very unnatural robotic and high pitched but I can hear them. All my Christmas CD's might as well be Alvin and the Chipmunks! Really miss listening to Gordons Crystal Flavola CD. They say music is the last thing to improve with the implant. I was told not to even think about diving for at least 3 months post OP. I do feed and cleans at the Duluth Great Lakes Aquarium so that will probably be my first dive with the implant which will be a good place to test it seeing as it is only 24' deep.


Gaffer (Tom)

Hi Old Gaffer!

I would check with DAN. If they don't have an answer, this may be a good topic for them to investigate.

Does anybody bother to read the post before they say, "check with DAN"? Or is it a reflex?

 

[DandyDon]

Does anybody bother to read the post before they say, "check with DAN"? Or is it a reflex?

:medal:

 

[Brules]

If DAN's Docs say stay above 100', then it seems they say it is ok. Go for it!

 

[shardison]

Hey Gaffer!!!

Here's the scoop... My wife is a hearing aid specialist that works closely with an ENT. She contacted him and has a couple answers for you:

I can confirm that testing has been done on CI in a chamber, and have had no issues with the CI failing within 4 atmospheres or 30 meters. Her ENT highly recommended going to your ENT to confirm that you have no Vestibular imparement however.

The second thing that you need to be careful of... Is your mask/headgear straps (not sure what your equipment is) they need to be free from your CI site... If the straps are rubbing or laying on your implant site, you may damage it that way.


That's the best answer I can give you, Perhaps you can get a more difinitive answer form another source, but there's not alot of documentation as of yet in regards to diving with a CI.

Good luck and I hope this helps you.

 

[BrewingDiver]

Tom, I would love to hear (no pun intended) the results if/when you try it. When are you going back to Coz? Maybe we can meet up again at Wet Wendy's. We are looking at May 2013.

 

[old gaffer]

Tom, I would love to hear (no pun intended) the results if/when you try it. When are you going back to Coz? Maybe we can meet up again at Wet Wendy's. We are looking at May 2013.

Hey good to HEAR from you! That was a fun evening at Wet Wendys! We might have a family reunion that we have to travel to at the end of May, but if that does not come together I plan on begging and pleading for a return to Cozumel in May. I am sure there will be a May list here on SB so time will tell!

I am sure you remember how difficult it was for me to hear that evening especially after it got dark and I could no longer read lips and of course a couple of Margaritas didnt help!

Tom