Tubes in ears can you swim

One of the most common pediatric outpatient procedures today is a tympanostomy tube or ear tube insertion used to drain fluid from the middle ear. Commonly associated with reduction of repeat ear infections, the tiny tubes also help decrease the risk of hearing loss. After an ear infection, children normally retain fluid in the ear that usually goes away on its own, but guidelines currently surrounding ear tubes suggest if this fluid lasts for more than three months, a child should be considered for ear tubes.

Nevertheless, despite the knowledge circulating around ear tubes and implantation, little awareness surrounds the discussion of tympanostomy tubes and swimming. Commonly, children with ear tubes are advised to use the following items to prevent water from entering the ear canal and possible disrupting the tube:.

Ear Tubes And Swimming So is it okay for your child to go swimming with ear tubes? In the past, there were two main common misconceptions about ear tubes and swimming: If you have ear tubes, you cannot swim.

Earplugs should be worn during swimming to protect your child against ear infections and to protect their ear tubes. After swimming, be sure to dry the outer ear with a towel and tilt your head to make sure you get all the water out of your ear. Avoid sticking foreign objects in your ear. This will only damage the inner lining of your ear. Avoid vigorously cleaning your ear. It helps repel water! For extra protection, swim caps or swim headbands can be worn to reduce the chance of excess water entering the ear.

If your child is experiencing frequent or severe ear infections, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Read Patient Reviews ». ENT Website Design by. Phone: Fax: Contact Us. Home About Dr. Clean water, like swimming in the pool at Goldfish Swim School, is fine even if your child has tubes in his or her ears. Ear infections are definitely no fun for kids or their parents! The good news is that it is generally accepted that getting water in the ear does NOT cause ear infections.

Inner ear infections are primarily caused by bacteria or a virus that travel internally to the ear, often from a cold or allergy.