Water in ear

Water in the ear can result from a variety of activities and environmental factors:

• Swimming: A frequent cause of water entering the ear canal, particularly during the summer.
• Showering or bathing: Routine hygiene practices can also result in water becoming trapped in the ear.
• Environmental factors: High humidity or immersion in unclean water heightens the risk.

Usually, water accumulates in the ear during a shower, bath or through swimming. The water flows into your ear duct and can sometimes generate the characteristic muffled sound.

This is because water floods the ear canal and settles in the ear.It works its way through the slightly sloping ear canal to the eardrum. Due to trapped water, the eardrum cannot move properly and no longer transmits sound completely. That's why you only hear muffled noises accompanied by a low gurgle.

In babies and children, ear inflammation caused by water entry can develop more rapidly because their Eustachian tube is shorter and narrower and their immune systems are not yet as strong as that of an adult. So, if water containing germs flows into the baby's ear from the outside and keeps the ear canal moist, otitis media can quickly develop. 

Tympanic effusion, on the other hand, is wheb a liquid forms inside the ear and collects behind the eardrum. Most of the time, an effusion from the tympanic cavity causes pain in the affected person. Tympanic effusions are more common in young children and should be treated quickly in any case as they can lead to pain and decreased hearing.

If you are fond of swimming or diving, swimming earplugs can prevent water from entering your ear and its possible complications. The silicone earplugs, are the most suitable: they protect the ear from water penetration. There are waterproof earplugs for adults on one side and special earplugs for children on the other to protect the ears from water penetration. High-quality earplugs seal the ear canals watertight, hold their shape and let sounds pass while preventing water from entering.

To avoid any inflammation, ear drops with glycerin and alcohol, which protect the pH value of the ear, are particularly suitable. They are great for divers, sailors or lovers of water sports. Too intensive cleaning of the ears is to be avoided in order not to damage the natural protective film inside the ear. For adequate ear hygiene a little hot water is more than enough. Cotton swabs are not recommended at this juncture: their use, in fact, can push a cap already present even deeper into the duct, blocking the water more and making it difficult to extract.

For hearing aid wearers, moisture and water present special challenges as they can affect performance. Waterproof hearing aids with special coatings or seals are designed to prevent moisture ingress. These are particularly suitable for active people who wear their hearing aids while exercising or outdoors. However, it is important to note that these hearing aids are not completely waterproof and are not suitable for swimming or showering.