Can't you imagine your life without swimming? This is familiar to many people because it is a great way to keep fit, relax or fulfill your dream of competing. But often the athletes face an unpleasant situation when water gets into their ears. It is not just irritating, but it can also provoke disease progression such as otitis externa - more well known as swimmer's ear.
The human ear is well protected from water ingress. Nature has taken care of this, so when we take a bath, shower, or swim in various reservoirs, the structure of the auricle does not allow liquid to get deep into the ear canal, and the earwax contained in it disinfects the water, destroying bacteria and preventing them from multiplying. That's right, the water may contain a certain number of different pathogenic bacteria and fungi, which can provoke inflammatory processes in the ear canals. Inflammation can be described as a burning sensation, irritation, and sharp pain. Therefore, a long stay in water increases the risks of infection with ear diseases, because moisture is a favorite medium of harmful microorganisms.
Chlorinated water in swimming pools is considered a reliable solution for the destruction of various infections. But even chlorine is not able to rid the liquid of all dangerous microorganisms, so you should think about wearing earplugs while swimming to protect your ears. This is an extremely important topic when it comes to the health of children. In this article, we will try to help you choose the best type that will perfectly fit your ears.
Firstly, earplugs differ in the material from which they are made. So there are earplugs made of plastic, silicone, wax, polyurethane, and rubber. The durability of the product, its convenience, and its characteristics depend on the type of material. When choosing earplugs, you should pay attention to the following main features:
Keeping the ear canals dry is the main task of all earplugs, but there are many kinds that are different in price and quality. Choose the models that have high waterproof protection and are made of flexible materials. It increases the earplugs' efficiency and they will help you avoid the disease.
Pool earplugs should be the right size to make the usage process more convenient. Choose the size according to your personal anatomical structure of the auricle. If you have a wide ear canal, then you should pay attention to the large size of the earplugs. If you choose earplugs for your child, it is worth considering the small size, and of course, everything depends on individual factors.
Reusable Conical Earplugs
They have several levels that are formed thanks to silicone layers of different diameters, arranged in descending order. It creates multiple-level protection that water cannot overcome. Insert conical earplugs into the ears to a depth convenient for you. Commonly, they are made of silicone or plastic, but the plastic ones are not very comfortable.
They are also cheaper than individually made earplugs which makes them a great choice if you are just starting to swim and are not ready to spend a lot of money. Earplugs of this particular model are included in any SONR set. SONR earplugs are made of high-quality raw, protect well from water penetration, helping to hear the crystal clear sound transmitted by the SONR receiver. Therefore, by purchasing SONR, you also become the owner of the best swimming earplugs.
Earplugs for swimming made of elastic silicone
Earplugs made of elastic silicone are good because they resemble plasticine in their characteristics. This means that they have plasticity, and flexibility and are able to take the form that suits your ears. They are quite affordable in terms of price since their use is not designed for a long period of time. Over the course of training and the use process, they change color to a darker one, get dirty and lose their flexibility. This means that it's time to change them.
Individual, molded earplugs
The most expensive solution is to order earplugs that were manufactured only for you. They can be called professional swimming earplugs, as they are most often ordered by professional swimmers. Individual earplugs can be ordered from specialized companies by a preliminary plaster cast of the outer ear.
To make a cast, you need to visit an otolaryngologist, who will do this with the help of special devices. We do not recommend making individual earplugs yourself, as only specialists can produce them perfectly.
And now, here are some answers to frequent questions regarding earplugs usage.
There may be a situation when earplugs fall out of the ears, and in order not to lose them, some manufacturers offer models with string. However, it is not very convenient to wear them, because the string prevents them from being placed correctly under the swimming cap. In addition, the string creates an extra obstacle during swimming. As a rule, earplugs with string are larger than usual, so we do not recommend wearing them during competitions.
Keep them in a special waterproof container. The earplugs that are included in the SONR sets are initially packed in a stylish, and compact container.
Insert earplugs in your ears before entering the water.
Do not give earplugs to minor children under three years old.
If you are wearing a swimming cap, try it on with earplugs to make sure that it is convenient.
Term of use
Silicone earplugs are designed for a maximum of 10 applications. After that, the material begins to darken, lose flexibility and start to leak the water.
Conical reusable earplugs can last from 5 months to 1 year.
Water, its pressure, and sunlight affect the term of use of the earplugs and over time they become dry. It is a sign that it's time to change them.
The sounds are still audible, but muffled, especially if you are wearing a swimming cap. If you use SONR at the pool training, then you will perfectly hear the voice of your coach underwater thanks to SONR receiver - a high technological bone conduction device for real-time coaching.
We have answered the frequent questions that you may have when choosing the best earplugs, now we will help parents choose a great option for children.
There are special types of earplugs designed for children. They differ from adult models in size and design, as children love beautiful and bright things, kids earplugs can be decorated with various patterns, letters, prints and pictures. Manufacturers of kids earplugs are guided by knowledge about the anatomical structure of the children ears, which makes the earplugs safe and comfortable for the child.Therefore, they are perfectly suitable and protect against diseases that may occur after a long stay in the pool. You can also think about buying customized earplugs for kids. Masters in the manufacture of individual earplugs make casts of the auricles and use them to make high-quality earplugs that are really suitable for your child. This option is the most expensive, but ensures the effectiveness of earplugs.
Earplugs are a way to keep healthy and enjoy swimming. Properly selected products and following the tips given above will help you keep your ear canals dry and avoid infections. Be healthy!
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