Swimming information for parents and children

Swimming is a fun hobby for many children and feeling confident in the water can help them stay safe. 

Here’s a selection of practical advice to help you make sure deaf children get the most out of swimming and have fun in the water.

Swimming for hearing technology users

Hearing aids and implants are usually not designed to be used around water. They are also expensive, so you may be worried about damaging them while swimming.

Many swimmers remove their hearing technology while they’re in the pool. This may mean that you have to adapt how you communicate (for example – using signs, writing things down). You should always store your hearing technology in a waterproof bag or dry box if you remove them at the pool. 

Cochlear implants

There are waterproof accessories for cochlear implants that are suitable for swimming. Which ones you can use depends on the brand of processor you wear. For example:

• Advanced Bionics offer the Waterproof Battery and the AquaMic Waterproof Headpiece.
• Cochlear Nucleus processors can be used with Aqua+ accessories.
• MED-EL processors, such as the SONNET, RONDO, and SAMBA can be used with WaterWear.

If your child wasn't given a waterproof accessory with their processor, ask your audiologist whether one can be ordered.

Hearing aids

Most hearing aids are ‘water resistant’. This means that they should not be damaged by slight exposure to moisture, such as sweat or rain. However, they should not be fully immersed in water as this will cause damage. Because of this, they are not suitable to wear while swimming.

Unfortunately, there are currently no waterproof accessories available for hearing aids. This is because a waterproof casing would block the output speaker and stop the hearing aid from working properly.

A small number of waterproof hearing aids have been developed in recent years. These are available for certain types and levels of deafness. Speak to your audiologist for more information.

Swimming with grommets

Some surgeons do not advise that children with grommets go swimming. This is because water can enter the middle ear and cause an infection.

If your surgeon says you can go swimming, you should still take precautions:

• Don’t swim for at least 3 weeks after grommet surgery.
• Don’t swim in water that may have high levels of bacteria, such as a lake or a non-chlorinated pool.
• Don’t dive or jump into the water, as this can force water through the grommet into the middle ear.
• Wear a swimming cap.
• Use swim moulds or ear putty and a neoprene headband (see below).

Swim moulds

Swim moulds are special earplugs which are designed to stop water entering the ear while swimming. They may be recommended for those who:

• Have had grommet surgery to treat glue ear.
• Have recurrent ear infections.
• Have had perforated eardrums.

Swim moulds come in a range of styles and colours. They usually float and have two small handles to allow easy insertion and removal. They are usually connected by a neck cord.

Swim moulds are often custom-made. An audiologist takes an impression the ear shape, which is manufactured into a silicone swim mould. Custom swim moulds need to be remade as children grow.

If swim moulds are needed for medical reasons, you will be able to order them through the NHS for free. They can also be purchased privately from audiology departments or private high street hearing aid dispensers.

When worn, swim moulds will block your ear. This means you will be able to hear less than you usually do. 

Ear putty and mouldable earplugs

Ear putty is a special material made out of silicone which can be shaped to fit the ear. Like ear moulds, ear putty prevents water from entering the ear. 

In recent years, mouldable ear plugs made of the same material have become more available. These work in the same way as ear putty but come packaged as two individual ear plugs.

Like swim moulds, ear putty and mouldable earplugs block the ear, so you will hear less than normal when you wear them.

Ear putty and mouldable earplugs can be found online, in chemists and in specialist swim shops.

Advice for using swim moulds, ear putty and mouldable ear plugs

• Only wear swim moulds, ear putty or mouldable ear plugs on or near the surface of the water. Do not wear them for underwater swimming or diving.
• Wear a tight-fitting swim cap or a neoprene headband to keep them in place.
• Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the mould before you insert it. This helps maintain a good seal.
• For hygiene reasons, never share ear moulds, putty or earplugs with someone else.

Swimming lessons

Learning to swim is important for children’s safety, can boost their confidence and is lots of fun! There are many things you can do to make sure your child’s swimming lessons are deaf-friendly. 

• Before lessons begin, talk to the teacher and explain how your child likes to communicate. Depending on their age, you may like to encourage your child to take the lead and talk to the teacher themselves.

• Discuss whether a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or Communication Support Worker is needed – this will usually need to be paid for by you or the company, but some early-career professionals may volunteer for free to improve their skills.

• Some deaf children enjoy being in a large swimming class, while others may prefer a smaller group or one-to-one tuition. This will depend on their preferences and communication needs. Talk to your child about what they think would work best for them.
• Observe the swimming teacher and see if their coaching style is well-suited to your child. This may mean using gestures to teach or demonstrating in a visual way.
• Make sure the teacher understands that your child may not hear auditory cues, like shouting or a whistle. Discuss visual ways to get your child’s attention. This could include waving their hands, splashing the water or waving a flag.
• Ask that all safety instructions are given before your child enters the pool. If they wear hearing aids or cochlear implants, this should be before they are removed.
• Ask the teacher to position the child where they can clearly see each other. The teacher should ensure they are visible to the child throughout the lesson.
• Share our Deaf-friendly swimming toolkit with your child’s teacher to help them learn more about deaf awareness.

I asked the teachers to make sure Santiago could see their faces when they were talking, make eye contact to get his attention, crouch down to his level, and use gestures as much as possible. They also agreed to use exaggerated arm and leg movements to demonstrate different strokes.”

Nathalie's son Santiago (11) is a competitive swimmer. 

Read Nathalie and Santiago's story.

Swimming for fun

Many public swimming pools and health clubs run regular recreational swimming sessions. Your child may also be invited to a swimming party.

Here are some useful points to remember when your child is swimming outside of lessons:

• Tell the lifeguard that your child is deaf and so may not hear a whistle or verbal instructions. Make sure they know they may need to use visual cues to get your child’s attention.
• If your child will be swimming unaccompanied in a new environment, ask staff to give them a tour of the pool and facilities. Make sure your child knows of emergency arrangements and visual cues for things like a wave machine starting.
• If attending a swimming party, the organiser and lifeguards should be informed that your child is deaf. A clear system should be agreed in the event of an emergency.

Competitive swimming

Some deaf children and young people may enjoy competing in swimming on a local, regional and national level. 

Often in competitive swimming, races begin with an audible cue, such as a buzzer or starting pistol. Deaf children may not be able to hear this and so may not enter the pool straight away.

When it comes to races, timing is important and every millisecond counts. Because of this, a lot of clubs have introduced other ways to signal the start of a race. Some coaches will tap the deaf swimmer’s leg when the buzzer sounds. Other clubs have a system of lights that are clearly visible from the starting block.