After receiving a cochlear implant (CI), CI users look forward to a whole new hearing experience following an adjustment and transition period. They can once again converse with others, listen to music, and, of course, participate in sports with their CI. Patients typically receive specific instructions from their implantation center regarding this. We’ve summarized the most important tips for participating in sports with a cochlear implant. As a general rule: Avoid direct impacts to the implant area. For some sports, wearing a helmet provides good protection.

Sports such as running, dancing, yoga, or gymnastics—which involve no contact with an opponent—can still be practiced as usual with a cochlear implant. Simply put on your audio processor, and you’re ready to go. The internal implant is protected from cold, moisture, and heat by the scalp. However, you should take a few special precautions with your audio processor: If you sweat heavily, you should use the drying box to remove excess moisture from your audio processor after exercising. To protect the processor from the cold, you can wear a hat or a headband. Additionally, low temperatures can cause batteries to drain more quickly. Therefore, it’s a good idea to always carry spare batteries with you, especially in the winter.

To keep sand off the audio processor, you should wear a sports headband or a protective case. This will also protect the audio processor during other high-intensity sports or sports that involve potential contact, such as soccer or handball, as well as during the high jump. It’s best to simply try out different options to see which type of protection works best for you.

By the way: Many suppliers offer their customers a wide variety of accessories for cochlear implants designed for an active lifestyle. Examples of cochlear implant accessories include a self-adhesive silicone ring—which acts as an additional magnetic attachment between the implant and the processor to provide maximum stability—an activity ear hook, or a hair clip. These products are available for both adults and children.

Cochlear implants are generally very durable, so playing sports with a CI and a helmet is no problem at all. On the contrary: the helmet protects your audio processor. It’s important that the helmet fits snugly and comfortably and doesn’t put any pressure on the implant or the audio processor. Also, when buying a helmet, always make sure it’s high-quality so that it provides the necessary protection. There’s a wide variety of helmets available, and some manufacturers even offer to make specific adjustments to helmets so they fit better. Be sure to take your time and thoroughly test a helmet before you buy it.

Swimming and other water sports are also no problem these days witha cochlear implant. Whereas in the past you always had to remove the audio processor to do so, there are now waterproof systems that make sports with a CI even more fun, even in the water. In most cases, a silicone protective cover is placed over the audio processor, the transmitter coil cable, and the transmitter coil, completely covering them. It is recommended to wear a swim cap over the processor to ensure it fits snugly and cannot be lost. Recreational scuba diving is also possible with cochlear implants to a maximum depth of 40 meters (maximum pressure of 5 bar).

You can still exercise even if you wear hearing aids. To find out what you need to keep in mind, read our article “Staying Active with Hearing Aids.”