Swim plugs and surfer plugs are designed to prevent water from entering the ear canal during swimming and surfing activities. Exposure to water can lead to bacterial infections like swimmer's ear or surfer's ear, which may cause permanent hearing loss. Swim plugs create a waterproof seal to block water entry while swimming, while surfer plugs also allow the wearer to still hear ambient sounds like waves. An audiologist can help select the appropriate type of ear plug based on the individual's water activities.

1. Swim Plugs and Surfer Plugs
Your ears are delicate organs, and
exposing your ear canal to water makes
you more likely to develop ear problems
that can permanently affect your
hearing. That’s why people who swim
and surf on a regular basis should
consider getting swim plugs or surfer
plugs to keep water out of the ear.
Problems Caused By Water
There are two major issues that swim plugs and surfer plugs protect against.
First, swimmer’s ear is when water washes away the protective coating of
ear wax and leads to bacteria growth in the ear canal. Repeated bacterial
ear canal infections can affect your hearing. The other, potentially more
serious problem is surfer’s ear. This is caused by repeated exposure to cold
water and wind that leads to bony growths in the inner ear, causing infection
and hearing problems.
How Swim Plugs and Surfer Plugs Help
Swim plugs are designed to keep water out of your ears by creating a
waterproof seal in the bowl-shaped portion of your ear. That way, no water
gets into your ear canal while you are swimming. Surfer plugs achieve
largely the same results, but they are also made in a way that they don’t
block sound. This allows you to more fully experience surfing by hearing the
sounds of the waves and ocean and chatting with other surfers while you’re
out waiting for the next set.
Your audiologist can help you select the best type of ear plug to get for your
particular water activities. Often a custom fitted ear plug is the best choice
because it can create the best seal against water, but recreational swimmers
and surfers who are susceptible to ear infections can opt for less expensive
one-size ear plugs or moldable plugs, which are especially good for kids.
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Website: www.FidelityHearingCenter.com