A wealth of choice
Companies known in the swimming industry, in addition to hats and swimwear, also produce a variety of swimwear, including ear protection. Earplugs are available in several modifications:
"Arrows" and "fungi" have an oblong shape and a special tail for which the earplugs can be easily pulled out of the ear. "Fungi" have a plump leg with a rounded cap and really resemble a fungus in shape. The “arrows” have a thinner stem inserted into the ear, with 3-4 circular membranes. Both the caps of the "fungi" and the membranes of the "arrows" are made of soft material, easily take the shape of the ear canal and provide good protection from water.
"Balloons" completely immersed in the ear, but due to their size, not very deep. To remove them, you need to press on the hollow under the ear, the ball will pop out by itself.
What else can you do to protect your ears in the pool?
To prevent the "swimmer's ear", the specialists of the American Mayo Clinic (the largest research center in the world) recommend adhering to the following recommendations:
- Dry your ears thoroughly with a soft towel after swimming. You can also dry your ears with a hair dryer. But place it at least 30 cm away from your ear and set the knob to the lowest setting.
- If your eardrum is intact, use ear drops for swimmers to prevent infections. They contain alcohol, which has a drying effect and prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi.
- Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ear canals - they will only push softened wax and infection deeper into your ear.
- Do not go to the pool without a doctor's approval if you have recently had an ear infection.
Earplugs MadWave Waxball
Material: natural almond oil wax mixed with vinyl and rubber.
Pros:
- very flexible balls, easily adaptable to the swimmer's ear;
- suitable for children and adults;
- do not fall out of the auditory canal;
- taken out without additional effort;
- hypoallergenic;
- can be used several times;
- there is a plastic storage container.
Minuses:
- for 2-4 applications;
- individual intolerance;
- difficulty in use.
How to insert and remove earplugs:
- Warm up the material with clean hands, wait for the required plasticity.
- Align the balls on the ear canal to form a waterproof seal.
- When you press on the cavity under the lobe, the ball will easily pop out.
How to use?
It is very easy to use earplugs even for those users who deal with similar products for the first time. To insert the plug correctly, just read the operating instructions. It may differ depending on which material was selected as the main one. The general scheme of use is as follows.
- Clean your ear canal. It must be clean and dry. Also, earplugs can only be used when the hearing organs are not affected by infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions.
- Remove the earplugs carefully from the packaging. If material permits, roll up the plug with your fingers. Perform this procedure slowly.
- Pull your ear back and up to open it as much as possible.
- Hold the plug and begin to gently insert it into the ear canal. Listen to the sensations.
- Insert earplugs whole. After the introduction, go to the mirror and carefully examine the ears. If the plugs are sticking out, you have not inserted them completely.
If the sizes of the earplugs are perfect, you will not feel any discomfort.Discomfort suggests that the plugs are too large and you need to choose another option. Also, the earplugs may be small. These earbuds will not protect against noise and water. In this case, you need to choose a larger model. Be sure to throw away disposable earplugs after the first use, otherwise you put yourself at risk of developing infectious diseases.
In the next video, you will find a quick overview of bioTAP Swimming Earplugs.
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The most popular are silicone earplugs, which have the advantage of being flexible and comfortable to wear. Silicone very rarely causes allergies, it does not irritate the skin and does not change its properties when exposed to sweat or sulfur. Comfortable plugs are easy to use and do not require special maintenance - just wash them regularly and store them in a case. Moreover, they allow you to hear what is happening around, but do not let the water inside.
Another type of earplug is wax. Their feature is the ability to warm up to body temperature, as a result of which they fill the ear opening as tightly as possible.
According to the shape, it is customary to distinguish several main types of plugs: "arrows", "fungi" and "balls". For children, the “arrows” are most suitable, which can be inserted and taken out without problems, and can also be located at different depths of the ear canal.
More recently, ergo earplugs have also appeared on sale. The "arrows" and "fungi" are characterized by an elongated shape with a small tail, allowing you to quickly remove the plug. In "fungi" the leg is thicker, and the "cap" resembles a rounded mushroom cap. The arrowhead is thinner and the number of tiers varies from 3 to 4. In general, the mushrooms are larger than the arrows.
The "balls" completely fill the ear, and to extract them, you will need to press a certain point under the lobe. The silicone foot of the earplug has a special void for better sound reception.
Quite often, the right and left earplugs are colored differently. Oblong "mushrooms" and "arrows" are made of medical grade silicone. The balls are created from a combination of vinyl, rubber, natural wax and almond oil. They are the ones that are hypoallergenic.
Hydroplags
A modern method of protecting the ear from water ingress while swimming in water bodies, swimming pools.
Material: biopur - hypoallergenic porous silicone of various densities. For children, soft ones are used, for adults - more dense ones.
Pros:
- anatomical copy of the swimmer's ear canal;
- make to order from an ear cast;
- fit snugly against the walls of the ear;
- completely prevent water from entering the external auditory canal;
- coated with antibacterial compounds. Prevention of ear infections.
- easy to insert and remove;
- long period of operation - from 1.5 to 3 years.
Minuses:
- strong noise cancellation, which can interfere with the training process;
- production time is required, from two days (if the order is urgent) and more;
- high cost of the product, from 3000 rubles per pair. The cost depends on the material and additional equipment (special clips, color);
- not suitable for diving. The pressure drop can injure the eardrum. For small dives, hydroplags can be used.
Advice:
- Insert hydroplags into your ears with clean hands.
- For hygiene reasons, wash with soap and water after each use.
Silicone Swimming Earplugs
Before use, it is necessary to warm the mass with your hands and form a ball.
Material: plastic silicone.
Pros:
- due to plasticity, they take the shape of the ear;
- well protect the child's ear from water ingress and infection;
- hypoallergenic;
- prevent the appearance of irritation in the outer ear from chlorinated water;
- suitable for swimmers with different sizes and shapes of the auditory canal;
- packed in a plastic container;
- for multiple use.
Minuses:
- you need to get used to earplugs;
- sometimes itchy;
- children will need the help of adults, it is difficult for a child to roll the silicone into a ball and insert it into the ear canal on their own;
- do not use at water temperatures of 40 degrees and above;
- become unusable over time.
How to install and remove earplugs:
Prepare your hands
Lather thoroughly, rinse with water and dry.
Gently wrinkle the silicone mass, warm it up a little in your hands.
Form two balls from the plastic mass.
Align the balls on the ear canal to form a waterproof seal.
Attention! Do not insert the ball into the auditory canal of the outer ear.
The earbuds can be easily removed by not pressing hard on the ear area. Tip:
Advice:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before using earmolds.
- For hygiene reasons, wash the earplugs in warm water and soap after each use.
- Dry earbuds at room temperature away from heating appliances.
Selection Tips
When choosing earplugs for swimming for your child, it should be remembered that these products are not universal. This means that going to the pool with earplugs for sleeping will be categorically wrong. Swimming accessories should fill the ear canal much more tightly and create pressure to prevent liquid from entering. They will have to be used all year round, so the choice must be made in favor of not only a multifunctional, but also a convenient model. In general, swimming in the winter season without earplugs can even be dangerous, since the likelihood of an infectious disease increases significantly.
Swimming earplugs must be waterproof - that's the point of them. However, the child, on the contrary, should hear the coach's commands, so it is better to consider models that provide such an opportunity. In general, most types of earplugs protect not only from water, but also from such extraneous sounds as music and screams that can interfere with your workout. Others simply block the passage of water. For added protection, wearing these products can be combined with a special cap with ears designed for the pool.
It is better to choose products that are dirt-resistant in case of reusable use. There is no such requirement for disposable earplugs.
It is very important to have special regulating holes that reduce the pressure on the ears to the normal level. In their absence, the child may face the problem of persistent headaches.
It is better for children not to buy earplugs, "balls", as many of them face the problem of difficult removal of accessories. It is better to start acquaintance with the products with the “arrows” and ergo earplugs models
In any case, it is important that they do not cause discomfort in the child and reliably protect the ear canal from water.
For more information about earplugs for swimming and sleeping, see the video below.
Do you need earplugs for swimming or can you do without them?
The answer to this question is unequivocal - they are needed.
Ears are a very vulnerable organ, so their health must be treated very carefully. Moisture and microorganisms in the water can cause bacterial and fungal inflammatory diseases that require long-term treatment.
The criteria for choosing earplugs for swimming are individual comfortable sensations, tight but not painful placement in the ear canal. Disposable earplugs are more hygienic, while reusable earplugs are more practical. The most convenient and practical are undoubtedly individual waterproof earplugs made from an impression of the ear canal.
The use of protective equipment that prevents water from entering the auditory canals will make the hobby for your favorite sport safer and bring only health, pleasure and good mood.
We offer fast and high quality production of customized waterproof earplugs.Contact any center "Rainbow Sounds" or "Hearing Studio" to take an impression. If you have any questions or want to clarify the cost and terms - call +7 (985) 266-91-30, use the call order form, or contact the nearest to you
.