Swimming with Ear Tubes

Dr. Greene’s Answer:

Most parents of children who have had PE tubes placed are happy with the results. They report fewer ear infections, easier clearance when infections do occur, and less worrying about whether their children have ear infections or not.

For many parents, the most vexing issue is the need for water precautions. Neither making their children wear ear plugs nor limiting water exposure is very fun. For years otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors) have cautioned against allowing water in an ear that has an open tube in the eardrum. Recently, some have begun to suggest that swimming precautions are unnecessary — that water does not get through the tiny tubes into the middle ear. Over the last few years there has been a flurry of articles arguing both points of view. Your quandary is the same one that faces experts.

In the late 1990s, an excellent study was published in the Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery that shed light on this controversy. The investigators followed 399 children with PE tubes. They were divided into four groups at the beginning of the study. Children in the first group were encouraged to swim without precautions. Those in Group 2 received antibiotic ear drops each night after they had been in the water. Those in group 3 wore molded ear plugs whenever they were in the water. Children in all three of these groups were instructed against diving and swimming more than 6 feet beneath the surface (since water under pressure presumably enters the middle ear through the tubes more readily). The fourth group consisted of confirmed non-swimmers. All parents were warned not to allow soapy water to enter the ear during bathing (since the lower surface tension of soapy water could allow it to penetrate the tubes more easily. Also, soapy water could be more irritating to the middle ear if it gains entrance).

Drum roll, please…

Children in the three groups of swimmers experienced no intergroup difference in the incidence either of ear infections or of draining ears regardless of plugs or ear drops. There was also no difference found between the swimmers and the non-swimmers.

Conclusion — relax and follow your doctor’s advice. Let your son enjoy swimming. Forget ear plugs. If your son turns out to be one of the unfortunate few who gets frequent ear infections in the summer months even after tubes, you might want to try water precautions on the chance that he is particularly sensitive to water exposure.

Perhaps sometime soon, someone will do a study about whether diving, underwater swimming, and soapy bathwater precautions are all really necessary. In the meantime, better safe than sorry.

Exciting new update!!!:

More recent studies have concurred with the conclusion that ear plugs are not needed for routine, surface swimming.

To look at the impact of soapy water and deeper water swimming, one study used a model head in various settings. The study showed that showering, hair rinsing, and submersion in clean tap water did not increase water entry into the middle ear. However, soapy water and deeper swimming (over ~2 feet) did.

So it appears that recent studies agree that ear plugs are not needed for regular, surface swimming. However, one may consider ear plugs for soapy water baths and deep swimming until more research can clarify the situation.

Footnote References:
Salata JA et al. 122:276-280,Arch Otoloaryngol Head Neck Surg. March 1996Herber RL et al. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. October 1998. Lee D et al. Laryngoscope. April 1999. Kaufmann TU et al. Schweitz Med Wochenshr. October 1999. Carbonell R et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. December 2002.

Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.

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  1. Buster

    I am 52 years old and have had issues with getting water in my ears from the shower and swimming. The best product out there is called earcapsule.com. These are so easy to use I am amazed they are just recently invented. Try these they are a game changer.

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  2. Melissa

    I am a 49y/o with a tube in my left ear. I love to swim and my husband and I have been considering diving. I recently took a beginner class in which we dove 10 ft. I had to ascend and clear my ears b/c my right ear was hurting. After our dive I had quite a bit of drainage from my left year but no pain. It is not recommended that I dive with a tube however it is on my bucket list and I’m considering risk vs. benefits.

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  3. Charlie B

    My son had tubes in his ears in the middle 70’s. We were warned not to get water in the ears. We moved to Houston in May and for the first 6 weeks we rented an apartment with a pool . We did not have the heart to say to a five year old he could not swim with his brother and sister. We went to the beach in Galveston often , and ended our day at the water slide to remove the sand and salt. In April the following year we went back to Denver for a visit . We happened to make a Dr. Visit to have his ears checked after swimming and playing in the Gulf. His ears looked good.
    Best his Dr. Has ever seen them

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  4. Nic

    I would totally disagree so prob depends on person. I am in my 30’s abs have tubes, still, for years. If more than a trickle of water – plain water – gets in my ear my whole eusrachian tube, travelling right down through my neck seizes and I am in pain levels worthy of t3’s at the least – mine become incredibly infected from the water abd require antibiotics abd cleaning out by the specialist. I know mine is certainly a worst case scenario – but I guess just want to preach caution. It’s easy to say hey no problem when you’re not the one dealing with the pain.

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    • Peggy

      I too disagree with getn water in ears w tubes. I have one in my left ear that has been there going on 8 years. If I get water in that ear I inevitatly end up with an infection. I just wish the darn thing would pop out but its not going anywhere.

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  5. C wilkinson

    I am 50 and have had t tubes in both ears on & off for last 15 years. My consultant told me to use a good blob of blu tack when swimming. I always take a pack on holiday & it works a treat.

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  6. Annie

    As a person with tubes, wear ear plugs when swimming! I just went swimming not knowing to put plugs in my ears and tubes filled with water it was excruciating pain clear down into my throat and I got extremely dizzy still 4 hours later I’m still in pain and cannot get the pressure or water out. Please put plugs in your child’s ears if they are going to be going under water!

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  7. Casey

    TOtally disagree. My son is 7 and has tubes. If he doesn’t use ear plugs, he gets a ton of pressure and water that doens’t come out.

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  8. Joanne

    My son is 8 years in 3 months and has just had surgery to insert his 2nd set of grommets (vents). His hospital nurse advised no swimming for 4 weeks although the surgeon advised that he COULD swim with cotton wool waterproofed with Vaseline (petroleum jelly). The hospital aftercare leaflet suggested “no swimming for a couple of weeks”. Brilliant!?! Doesn’t help me at all really. Swimming instructor advised ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE EARPLUGS as they can cause a shrieking noise and severe pain in the ear.

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  9. Linda

    As an 53 year old who had tubes put in my ears and was not told “not to swim ” 3 months after my tubes was put in I went swimming and just dove down in the water maybe 3 feet and thought my head was going to explode . The pain was excruciating for the next day and a half.

    Linda

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    • Hyacinth

      I have just started swimming classes and the minute I put my head under surface water with my swimming cap covering my ears I feel my head ache as it’s going to explode … please tell me what todo . Should Iuncover my ears or use ear plugs ?

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  10. Carl

    Thanks for the info. My sons case is a little more complicated and I am hoping you can help. He had tubes and now has a hole in his ear that won’t heal. He eventually needs surgery to place a patch over the hole. I’m not in a rush to have this done. My question is can he swim in oceans? We use a silicone ear plug for swimming in pools and tubs. We are planning a trip to Florida soon and I am concerned about his open hole being an issue in the Florida ocean in August with the dangers of bacteria.
    Thanks

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    • Leslie

      What ever happened? My daughter has the same exact problem

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    • Hal

      As a 40 year old who had a hole in my eardrum from childhood till last year, I beg you to get your child’s ear drum patched as soon as possible. I was miserable my whole life with earl infections galore and it also allowed more sinus infections too. I have a loss of hearing now and when they went to patch it, the doctor had to reconstruct the eardrum because there was nothing left. Post surgery was miserable for about a year. I wish my parents would have had mine repaired 35 years ago!

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    • Krista

      This is late I know but I was told by my daughter’s ENT that lake and ocean waters you should wear ear plugs, pools and bathtubs were fine to go without.

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  11. ghlnk.com

    Very cool! Thanks for the introduction. I had no idea that these exist!

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  12. marilyn

    After tubes are out, a hole where the tube was, has not completely healed. Surgery in a year. Can this 4 year old still be able to surface swim?
    Thanks
    Marilyn

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    • Kelly Nickason

      Both my kids were left with holes from tubes. 3 surgeries later my daughter has been told the hole cannot be fixed and is permanent. So upsetting considering I didn’t even know this was a possible outcome. She just doesn’t put her head underwater.

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  13. trndiik

    Hello, I´m 10 and i have ear tubes. My doctor tell me that I can´t swim. And he tell me that I would have the tubes for 1 year or more. I have those tubes in my ears (both) 10 months now. I´m really sad about that because I have all summertime lost. The things that I can do is: pennyboarding, longboarding, and other, but I can´t go to water with my ears (Aquapark, pool, etc.). I can swim but only with body in water :(.
    Can anybody please help me, what earplugs are the best and don´t allow water to go through?? Thanks. Mirek

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  14. Rachel

    What happens if water does enter the middle ear?

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    • jessica

      If you get water in your ear, after a couple days your ear will hurt, then it might feel like its closing up. If it hurts so bad you can’t wear headphones or you caint sleep, then go to your doctors or the hospital.

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  15. shailly

    I have 95% hearing loss. I like swimming… I swim without hearing aid.. Is there any way to swim while wear hearing aid??? I want to hear while on water..plzzz tell me what to do???

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  16. Donald Guillot

    Hello,

    My Son has had ear tubes (T-style) since he was 2 years old. He is now 7 years old soon to be 8 in 3 months. The pediatrician has been concerned about them being in so long and possibly some tissue growth, and expressed to consider removing the ear tubes. When taking him to the ENT (which performed the surgery and a big advocate of tubes), he stated they are still seated fine and doesn’t look bad. Our concern is the length of time and when will the fact that they haven’t fallen out within the standard 2-4 year period should there be concern. Also the ENT is a passionate advocate of ear tubes, so we want to make sure his personal/professional enthusiasm doesn’t overlook what may be the best path for our son. Tough topic….

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  17. justmy2centsworth

    I just recently found out that I am to get tubes..i too am a swim coach and an avid masters swimmer (highly ranked) and it frightens me to say the least that my swimming career may be shelved…hoping not; maybe i just have to re-evaluate which races i swim moving forward..quite frankly this sucks..

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    • stan

      Get custom-fitted earplugs, you’ll be good as new. My daughter is also a swimmer – works like a charm

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  18. Cameron

    Thinking Macks are significantly cheaper, one time use only. Putty buddies are sold in one pair only, not sure if you can reuse.

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  19. Cameron

    I haven’t tried Cathy’s suggestion (Puddy Buddies and band). Macks are the best so far sometimes I have to change and replace mid work out.

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  20. Lisa

    I’m also an adult with PE tubes in both ears. It is very depressing for me as I love to swim. Need to find ear plugs that will work. I get an annual ear infection anytime I get water in my ear.

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Comments are closed.