by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Did you ever wish you could wear your hearing aids or cochlear implants so you could hear while swimming or splashing around in the water? How about when you were out boating, or while you were in the shower, or caught out jogging when a sudden deluge soaks you to the skin, or when working outside in the heat with the sweat pouring off you?
In the past, activities such as these often caused problems with hearing aids and cochlear implants that necessitated expensive repairs.
The good news is that this is slowly changing. Today, the trend is to make some hearing aids and cochlear implants waterproof so they can be used under all kinds of conditions without causing any damage to them.
Waterproof hearing aids are not exactly new. Few people know this, but Rion of Japan put out the first waterproof analog hearing aid—called the Dolphin—back around 1996. I wrote about the waterproof Dolphin hearing aid in August, 2008.
Now Siemens is getting into the act with their new Aquarius behind-the-ear hearing aid—the first “waterproof” digital hearing aid. It is rated as IP57— basically waterproof to 3 feet for 30 minutes. You can learn more about the new Aquarius hearing aid, just announced on April 5, 2011, here.
For cochlear implant users, Cochlear Corp. was the first CI manufacturer off the block with their Nucleus 5, a “waterproof” BTE speech processor, released back in September, 2009. It meets the same IP57 ratings for dust and water intrusion as the Aquarius.
Coming in the fall of 2011, assuming all goes well, is Advanced Bionics’ new waterproof speech processor named the “Neptune“, according to their May 24, 2011 presentation.
The Neptune will be a body-worn processor, certified to IP68 standards, in other words, totally waterproof.
If you are interested in exactly what these standards mean, IP stands for “Ingress Protection”. Ingress Protection is how well the hearing aid (or any other device) keeps foreign “stuff” out. The first number relates to solid particles (dust). A level 5—like the Aquarius and Nucleus 5—are “protected against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit).” while the highest level for solid particles—6—like the Neptune, is “totally protected against dust”.
The second number is the level of protection against water (liquids). Level 7 (Aquarius & Nucleus 5) means “protected against the effect of immersion between 15 cm [6″] and 1 m [3′]”, while the highest level—8—(the Neptune) is “protected against long periods of immersion under pressure”.
Note that Advanced Bionics has specifically tested the Neptune in both salt water and fresh water pools at depths of 3 meters (~10 feet) for 45 minutes. Since people do not typically swim underwater deeper than 10 feet or so and certainly can’t hold their breaths for 45 minutes, for all practical purposes (unless you are SCUBA diving) you should be able to wear it as long as you want while diving and swimming under water, taking a shower, or any other activity that involves water.
Can you take the Neptune in saltwater?
I don’t see why not? It’s completely waterproof and dust proof so nothing can get in–neither water or salt.
But you can always check with the manufacturer to be sure.
Regards
Neil
is it possible to go swimming with the Nucleus 5 and Freedom cochlear together or just the one implant whilst swimming or doing any activities involving water??
I’m heartbroken. Siemens (Signia) discontinued the Aquaris waterproof hearing aid in 2016. I have one and am hoping it will keep working. I had wanted to by another. 4 years from now they will stop repairing the Aquaris. I can’t begin to tell you how this aid opened up my world at the beach and pool. It’s a shame bottom line is always money and not helping those who need it. Is anyone aware of anyone else making or planning on making a waterproof aid for profound deaf users?
Hi Jill:
I’ve got good news for you. Signia still makes waterproof aids–they just don’t say it that way. All you have to do is loop for the IP rating of the hearing aid you are considering. An IP rating of IP68 (the highest possible IP rating) means it is totally dust proof and totally waterproof. Thus you can swim with it all day long without any problems.
Their new Cellion primax is such an aid. The advertising says it is rated IP68. So there is at least one hearing aid out there for you. But I’ll bet if you look, you’ll find others.
To learn what the various IP ratings mean see my article at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/is-your-hearing-aid-waterproof-or-water-resistant-can-you-trust-the-manufacturers-claims/ .
Cordially,
Neil
With the Aquaris, I was able to submerge my head underwater. That is what I mean by waterproof. Does an IP rating of IP68 mean I can do that? I would even consider an analog (which I miss) aid.
Hi Jill:
Did you read the article about what IP means? I sent you the link. Dust proof means dust proof and waterproof means waterproof. With a hearing aid of IP68 rating you can swim underwater for 8 hours if you feel like it without causing any problems. And you could wear it in the middle of a Sahara desert sandstorm for 8 hours without any dust getting into it.
Now that the technology is there, more and more hearing aids are being made this way. This makes them much more reliable as moisture can’t get into them and short out things. Ditto for dirt.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you so much! That’s great news!