Learning to Swim: How do we make sure our kids get wet while their implants and aids stay dry?
I received a question from a mom about how to handle swimming for children with hearing loss. Her children are still very young but she would like to introduce them to swimming and her kids cannot go in the water with hearing aids. She said that she was concerned about how they would understand what was going on at the pool since they only oral communication. At the same time she felt that it is important for her that her children learn to swim.
I wanted to share my answer with all of you:
It is important that all kids learn to swim for safety reasons and it can be such a good form of exercise and fun for kids too.
Find out who in your neighborhood or area has experience teaching swimming to children with special needs. In our area it was the local community center – they had a summer camp program with swim instructors who taught children with Down syndrome, autism, and other severe disabilities. They had not worked with a child with hearing loss but they were experienced in being flexible in how they taught swimming. Also, they thought that “just” a hearing loss was easy compared to the challenges of the children that they usually worked with!
Buy a waterproof plastic case to send to the pool so the instructor can give as much explanation and instruction as possible while the children have their hearing aids or processor on, while they are sitting at the edge of the pool and then they can help your children take off their hearing aids or processor right before they are ready to get into the water. They can take them off and put them back on as necessary and in my experience nothing happens to the hearing aids if they get splashed a little.
Try to organize a small group of kids for the swimming lesson since the more kids around – the splashier it all gets! Private one-on-one lessons are probably the best for starting to learn to swim but they are usually more expensive than group lessons.
Ask the swimming instructor to explain to the other kids that when your child has her hearing aids or processor on – it needs to stay dry. The instructor can offer planned splash-time to restless or active children – when your child’s hearing aids or processor is sealed in the case. It might be fun and exciting to everyone.
Put the hearing aids or cochlear implant processor in a Dry and Store overnight after a day at the pool to make sure it dries out really well.
One more note: until my kids (with hearing loss and without) were both very competent swimmers and pretty old, I insisted that an adult supervise them whenever they were in the pool. I am afraid that a lifeguard at a big public pool full of activity has too much to do – and blowing the whistle at my child with hearing loss was not enough to make sure that he stayed safe. So they grumbled a bit at their rough life/dumb parents and I spent a lot of time sitting next to the pool. I recommend some strong sunscreen, a big brimmed hat, and a rewarding cold drink when the day is done!
I hope that this is helpful. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions or comments. Hope the summer is healthy and happy!
Tags: children, cochlear implant, deaf, hearing aids, hearing loss, parents, swimming, swimming lessons, water safety
My sister and I were born with hearing loss. I remember when we used to live in Brandon, Fl. We had a swimming pool in our back yard. I was swimming without any hearing aids on. I saw my sister forgot that she had her hearing aid on and she jumped in the pool. She had get a new hearing aid. I know children forget we wear hearing aids and want to go swimming so bad.
It’s always great to see a down-to-earth example of how a bit of thought and persistence solves a great number of parenting problems. Thanks!
hey my name is Drew, i learned to swim at a young age, i am profoundly deaf but with my Ci and my hearing aid i can hear pretty much everything, i learned to swim when i lived in Hawaii since my dad was in the army i moved alot, when i learned to swim i knew right away i cant use my hearing aids at all, and i knew how to lip read so it helped alot, while swimming and all people got my attention by splashing and screaming really loud. but now since i just got an implant i just went swimming at its so silent and everyone talks and all, but with my lip reading skills and my asl singing skills i can still have a great time with my family and friends! so it helps if there is asl and lip reading for the kid or for anyone with a hearing loss it will help them have fun and learn to swim