Swimmers wear ear plugs for two main reasons, the first I will explain quite quickly, but the second reason I will get into more detail as it is a bit more complicated. The first reason simply is if a swimmer has a perforated eardrum earplugs are a requirement to prevent any water entering the ear canal as this can cause serious discomfort and could later develop into an infection.

The second reason however, is to prevent any infection of the external ear canal such as swimmer ears, or it’s medical term ‘otitis externa’. People normally perceive this to be an infection conceived when swimming in polluted water such as a lake, but it is more commonly found in children or adults who spend a majority of time in chlorinated water, such as a swimming pool.

The chlorine in the swimming pool can dry out the skin of the ear canal, which can encourage bacteria and cause an infection or fungal conditions. Swimmer’s ear can be extremely painful and in more serve cause can make the ear extremely sensitive to touch. It isn’t a dangerous condition, but it can cause serious discomfort and the ear can become swollen which can cause hearing problems.

Fortunately by wearing suitable ear plugs while swimming you can prevent the condition from occurring. Silicone ear plugs are the ideal solution for preventing swimmer’s ear or otitis externa as they give a more custom fit, are easy to clean and have a long life expectancy.

There are many types of swimmers ear plugs available they can be mouldable, pre-moulded, re-usable and are also available to bulk buy. In my experience with my children I have found that bulk buying them is the best option as children tend to misplace objects on a regular basis and to ensure hygiene on a regular basis it is a lot more hassle free to throw them out after one use.