Friday 29 November 2019

How to manage swimmers’ ears?

How to manage swimmers’ ears?


Ears are a delicate and sensitive part of our sensory system that analyze and detect sound. They are incredible as they have natural defences such as cerumen (earwax) or cartilage that regulate, clean and prevent foreign bodies from entering our ear canal. Due to the delicate nature of our ears, however, our hearing can easily be affected by diseases, lifestyle factors and injuries when our natural defences have been overwhelmed. Otitis Externa also is known as swimmer’s ear is an inflammation or infection which runs from your eardrum all the way to your outer ear. It can occur suddenly and can be triggered when water remains in your ear after swimming or accidental cuts are made inside the ear. As the ear canal is dark and warm, it can moisten with retained water or abrasions, allowing for bacteria or fungus to grow. Although Swimmer’s ear is most commonly found in children, it can still affect all ages.

If treated promptly, swimmer’s ear is not serious, however, if left untreated, complications can occur such as temporary hearing loss, deep tissue infection, chronic otitis externa or more-widespread infections. In serious cases, swimmer’s ear can spread to other areas of the ear such as the skull bone which can pose a serious threat to the elderly. That is why it is important to contact your GP when symptoms such as itchiness, redness or swelling in the ear start appearing.

How to manage swimmers’ ears?


How do I protect myself from getting an infection?

Whether you’re an avid swimmer or love playing in the water once in a blue moon, it is always important to keep your ears safe from foreign waters. To reduce the risk of getting swimmer’s ear, you should not put your fingers, sprays or any objects such as cotton buds or hairpins in your ear in an attempt to dig out earwax or scratch an itch as it can irritate and damage the skin lining of your ear canal causing an infection. You should also keep your outer ears dry after showering or swimming as water stuck in your ear canal can increase the chance of fungus growth. If you are experiencing a blockage in your ear due to retained water, tug your earlobe and tilt your head to the side to help drain the water out of your ear canal. Find yourself struggling often with blocked ears after swimming or showering? The best solution is to wear earplugs to protect your ears, particularly when entering lakes, oceans or swimming pools as the water may be polluted.

At Attune Hearing, we provide the best earplugs, tailored specifically to your lifestyle. Moulded to the shape of your ears, our earplugs are extremely comfortable to wear, easy to insert, hypoallergenic and effective in preventing dirty water from entering your ear canal and middle ear system. In addition, our earplugs are durable and can be upsized, perfect for avid swimmers. A protective case for your earplugs are provided for safekeeping when unused. Looking for custom-made earplugs? Contact your nearest Attune clinic today to speak with one of our highly-qualified Audiologist to discuss options.

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