Diving with a cochlear implant

A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted electronic system that offers a perception of seem to a individual who is profoundly deaf or seriously hard of listening to.

I progressively lost my listening to capacity from the age of 13 onward.  With 25 I bought my initially listening to aids (amplifiers) and with 45 a long time I got a cochlear implant. My CI is fantastic and permits me to hear virtually everything. I can converse and enjoy listening to tunes.

Only one ear has an implant. The other ear serves for decoration only and avoids that my sun shades are falling down. ? Two several years in the past, I questioned the Swiss social protection IV/AI to finance a 2nd implant. They refused with the argument that I am as well previous.  Nit-pickers! Considering the fact that I was 18, I have paid my insurance contribution and now when I want their aid, they say no. Shame on them.

An additional challenge arose, when I begun diving. A person cannot stay in just one of the very best dive places in the Philippines without having observing the underwater entire world. Since I was a young boy I did snorkeling and no cost diving. I usually go down to 12 to 15 meters. The implant maker allows a depth of 25 meters. When totally free diving, a single does not need to listen to, despite the fact that it would be useful. But when you do scuba diving, then you should hear. Dive masters usually cling their knife on the tank to send an “Attention” signal.

Which is me with no my cochlear implant processor. Of program, the implanted element is still in my head ? . The manufacturer of my CI, Superior Bionics, provides now a watertight CI processor and microphone. Regretably the specialist of the Centre Romand d’Implants Cochléaires (CRIC) experienced to inform me that my implanted electronics are not suitable with the new Neptune CI. It appears that the new Neptune CI simply cannot offer more than enough electric power to the implant.

These are the pleasant pics from Sophisticated Bionic’s advertisement. Even if I are not able to have on the Neptune processor, State-of-the-art Bionics could deliver proprietors of a “Platinum Series” processor with a water resistant scenario. What GoPro can do, Sophisticated Bionics should really also be equipped to do! Make a water-resistant case for depths of 25 meters. The GoPro case is even permitted for depths down to 40 meters. Safety from the corrosive environment at the sea-aspect would be another benefit of these a circumstance.

Gearing up with my head piece and processor nonetheless linked.

My “Platinum series” processor and my head piece have to stay on-shore ?

I hopefully seem ahead to my visit at the CRIC this summer season. Maybe they will have great news for me … ?