Swimming is an excellent way to have fun, stay in shape, and for some it fulfills their competitive spirit. However, many fans of the water will at some time experience the irritating post-swim sensation of water trapped inside their ear canal.
The all-too-familiar feeling of unwanted water sloshing inside your ears is not just annoying, it’s potentially dangerous. If you frequently enjoy the swimming, and water makes its way into your ears, problems can develop.
Excess moisture in your ear canal creates a more-welcoming environment for bacteria and fungi to breed. A condition called acute otitis externa—better-known as “swimmers can”—can take hold. When it does, the outer ear becomes infected, irritated, and inflamed. Ouch!
And although the water in a chlorinated pool is filtered, cleaned, and free from most dangerous microbes, even chlorine can’t kill every kind of unwanted organism. Precaution never hurt anyone, so consider using swim earplugs.
A quality pair provides an affordable, convenient defense against water contaminants that could cause infection or make an existing one worse and protect ears—especially those of children.
Earplugs are made of specific materials so you can insert them into your ear to buffer sound or provide a barrier to water. They are typically manufactured using wax, foam, rubber, plastic, and silicone.
Size matters. When it comes to earplugs, don’t overlook this factor, as the right size helps ensure the best possible fit.
For women and children, be advised: Most earplugs are sized for men. The standard earplug sizes are small, medium, and large. If you are female or buying earplugs for a child, the best choice will almost always be a small size.
Even though their job is relatively straight-forward—keep water out of the ear canal—the solutions vary greatly in effect and cost. And not all earplugs are created equal.
First and first most, know that not all earplugs are designed for the water. You want to seek models that are specially made with watertight, yet pliable, materials. After all, the goal is to help keep your ear canal dry, so you need earplugs designed for waterborne activities.
Foam earplugs, most commonly seen in bright orange, are designed for noise suppression. They cost just a few dollars, and they work well if you frequent loud concerts or work at a construction site.
However, they are not designed for keeping water out of your inner ear; the foam material does not provide an adequate barrier against penetration from incoming water. Many parents make the mistake of buying foam earplugs for their little swimmers. Don’t. Never use foam earplugs for the water.
The flanges act independently to seal in the ear canal. These models typically cost less than their silicon or custom counterparts, and they are very reliable in the water. For these reasons, conical earplugs are an excellent choice if you are new to swimming and are not ready to spend more for a set of silicone earplugs (see next section).
Top custom earplugs allow for reheating the material and reshaping it if you didn’t get it right the first time. As a side benefit, these custom versions may also be used for sound dampening, meaning you can go to the afternoon concert before your hair has dried off from a morning swim at the pool!
The perfect fit does come at a higher price. Typically, tailor-made models run from $5 to $250 a pair.
Bonus tip: Many custom earplugs are marketed as being water repellant but have let down many a seasoned swimmer. Exasperated after time-consuming customizing (and re-customizing) many swimmers opt for a pair of reliable and non-complicated conical or silicate earplugs instead. Be sure to check on the packaging or with your audiologist to confirm if the custom earplugs are good for pool use.
Keep earplugs in their carrying case. Many competitive-swimmer earplugs come with a case that’s waterproof.
For better placement, put earplugs in before getting your ears wet.
Keep earplugs away from toddlers who could mistake them for candy.
If you wear a swim cap, try it on to make sure the earplugs work well with it.
So consider: Do you still need to hear well while swimming? Are you a competitive swimmer who needs to hear your coach’s instructions? If the earplugs are for your child, do you want him or her to be able to hear your words of encouragement?
If so, conical earplugs may be the ones to buy. You can also check the noise-reduction rating (NRR) of the earplugs, and opt for the ones that block the least amount of sound. They are suitable for water sports where users need protection from the water but still need to hear voices well.