John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and is an adjunct assistant professor at New York University Medical Center.
There is no universal set of earplugs to prevent swimmer's ear — one brand might be perfect for a friend or swim partner, but a poor choice for you. With many options available, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Relax — there are plenty of different kinds of earplugs to help you find the right pair for your lifestyle and budget.
You can get earplugs from some doctors (particularly ear, nose and throat specialists), or audiologists. Here are the pros and cons of going this route:
When my son got his first set of earplugs, we bought them from his ear, nose and throat specialist. Our doctor assured us that it was fine to use the ones from the grocery store, but we felt that since he was in swimming lessons, he should have the best available. He needed help putting them in but I didn't foresee that as a problem until he was invited to go swimming with a friend and I wasn't there to help him. He only used them 1-2 times before losing them. Because they were made of a clear, hard, plastic, they were pretty impossible to find in the water.
In my opinion, age should be a consideration when deciding how much money to spend on earplugs and what type of earplugs to use.
These types of earplugs are readily available at most stores and pharmacies. They look like little colored balls of putty and are often marketed specifically for children.
Conical earplugs are also available over-the-counter and are usually made out of silicone or rubber. It is difficult to describe their appearance. From the outside, they look a little like a pop-out turkey timer. When my son wore them he joked that he looked like the cartoon character Shrek, as the end of the plugs stick out of your ears. The part that goes inside the ear is cone-shaped and accordion-style. When you push the plugs into your ears, the "accordion" part folds in on itself and creates suction, which holds the plugs in place.
While researching this article, I came across something called "ear bands." Apparently, "Little Grommets Ear Bands" are, what look like, headbands that cover the ear and fit tightly enough to hold your child's earplugs in place. The headband is adjustable. While the concept seems sound — and as I've mentioned, losing earplugs while swimming is common — I have no experience with this product and cannot speak to its effectiveness.
If you are scuba diving, you may want to buy earplugs that not only keep water out but also help your ears to equalize pressure and prevent barotrauma. These are called vented earplugs. It is my understanding that the use of earplugs is controversial among divers with some doctors actually having the opinion that they can increase the risk of a ruptured eardrum. Therefore, I recommend speaking to your ENT doctor before deciding to use vented earplugs.
There are a few different vented earplugs on the market with no scientific information that I know of attesting to one over the other.
Foam earplugs are sold extensively over-the-counter. These earplugs are to be used expressly for blocking out noise and not water. They are used to prevent hearing loss, not swimmer's ear.
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Uzun G, Mutluoglu M, Senol MG. Decompression syndrome, ear-plug and barotrauma. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2011;14(3):226–227. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.85921
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. Swimmer's Ear. https://www.entnet.org/content/swimmers-ear.
DAN. Unplugged: Use of Ear Plugs in Scuba Divers. http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=33.
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