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Training in the pool

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Good day to all! I really want to hear your thoughts and advice on the following issue. Recently, I came up with the idea of learning how to swim properly​:grin: Before that, I always swam in the pool with my head raised above the water surface. This started to cause discomfort in my neck. I took swimming lessons with a trainer in the pool, and I told them about my specific needs. However, I faced a problem! After swimming lessons, I started to have difficulty hearing in my left ear due to water getting into it​:pensive::pensive: The available methods for removing water did not help. I had to put ear drops in, and the discomfort went away after a week. Today, I had another workout, and I’m still dealing with water in my ear.:unamused::unamused: I can’t use earplugs during my training sessions with the coach. If anyone has experienced this or regularly visits a swimming pool, please share your solutions. Additionally, how long do you feel the sensation of a clogged ear after applying ear drops?

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If you’ve got wax in there, the pool water will cause it to swell and block your ear. You might want to get it checked if you get any retention of water.

I swim laps and I used to experience what you report. I started applying wax treatment on a regular basis and the problem went away. So it looks like shock horror the audiologists in the group might be right.

Btw I use a snorkel. It got me from 0 to 20 laps. That and YouTube videos.

A doctor I used to go to many years ago told me to blow gently into my ear using a hair dryer at low heat and low speed, and to use my free hand to pull my outer ear up and back. I was getting otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) a lot back then, and using a blow dryer did help.

In reply to @TatyanaKa

Yes, yes, no. The rubbing alcohol breaks the water surface tension and dries out the ear. A common and effective defense against swimmer’s ear is half white vinegar half rubbing alcohol, so if you’re prone to ear infections you could consider that too.

Wax is often the culprit when water is getting trapped, but some people just have little bendy ears.

Edited

Thanks for the answer! Indeed, when I used intra-ear devices, my left one always looked kind of ridiculous, my prosthetist explained this by saying that the structure of my canal was like that. Thanks to your comment, I remembered this moment. Perhaps the reason is really the anatomical structure, because I don’t have such problems on the right side. She did not suffer from ear infections. I first encountered this after I started swimming in the pool and submerging my head in the water.

I would, if I could still swim. These days, immersing my head in water gives me terrible dizziness - I’m not sure why, and my doctor found nothing of concern upon exam and an . I don’t have easy access to a pool anymore, so it’s not an issue.

Edited

Cold water probably. Creates a convection current in the vestibular organ. Hearing loss and vestibular loss can be coupled so you might be more sensitive.

Yes, but I wouldn’t do if there are no issues. If there are issues, I’d recommend the child see an audiologist first to assess wax. In my experience, at least where I am, family physicians have a quite variable ability to identify problematic ear wax. If you know the ears are clear and there are STILL problems, then yes. 70% alcohol half and half with white vinegar. No need to keep it in, just a few drops or flush and dump should clear the canal.

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