Water stuck in ear: what to do?

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1. Try to remove the water in your ear by shaking or tilting your head. You can also try to get the water absorbed by gently inserting the tip of a tissue into the ear canal. It is essential that the handkerchief is not excessively thick, as otherwise it could irritate the walls. If you should notice that the water does not come out of the ear and gets stuck in it, you need to be careful, in fact, a sudden movement and the use of objects not suitable for its leakage could cause severe and persistent ear pain.
   
   
2. Using a hair dryer can also help dry the ear canal properly and get rid of the water inside the ears. However, some precautions are necessary such as a sufficient distance of the hair dryer from the ear and setting the lowest heat level to avoid burns and other related problems.

If the above steps are ineffective and the muffled ear sensation does not go away after a couple of days, it is likely that a plug of wax has formed inside the ear. This cap is possibly treatable with ear drops or sprays, which could soften and drain the cap. Ear candles, are not suitable as a definitive treatment for a plug of ear wax, and therefore should not be used to remove water from the ears either.

Water in the ear not only creates unpleasant ear pain but it can also be dangerous if it remains stuck for longer. If ear inflammation has already occurred, it is strongly recommended to make an appointment with your GP or otolaryngologist.

This inflammation, also known as swimmer's ear, manifests itself through the following symptoms:

• After a shower, a bath or a dive, hearing is limited and muffled.
• After one or two days the ear becomes sensitive to the touch and begins to itch. 
• Severe pain develops inside the ear. When you press on the tragus on the outside of the ear canal or pull the ear, the pains become more acute. 
• A secretion comes out of the ear. 
• The skin of the duct may be swollen or red.

If the sensation of muffled ear persists for several days, it is likely that the earwax inside the ear canal has absorbed some of the water, enlarging and occluding the ear. If ear pain does not go away within a couple of days, this can be a wake-up call for an ear canal infection and an appointment with a GP or otolaryngologist is absolutely necessary.

Pain and itching in the ear can indicate an ear infection caused by germs in the water. In this case, the otolaryngologist can prescribe an antibiotic if necessary and remove the remaining water from the ear. Failure to treat these warning signs can, in the worst case, lead to hearing loss.

If you are fond of swimming or diving, swimming earplugs can prevent water from entering your ear and its possible complications. The silicone earplugs, available at your Amplifon reference center, 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.