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Hearing Loss
July 24, 2024
5 Min

Water in Your Ears? Essential Tips for Hearing Aid Users

Read about risks, prevention, and good practices when you have water in the ear, especially if you use hearing aids. Read more!

Author:
Nicole Brener
Water in Your Ears? Essential Tips for Hearing Aid Users
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If you've experienced clogged ears after a swim or shower, you're not alone. When water gets in your ears, sounds can become muffled, and you may experience some pressure or pain.

The trick is to take care of it sooner rather than later. Water in your ear canal can lead to bacterial growth and infection, referred to as “swimmer's ear,” which can be even more discomforting if you're a hearing aid user.

Swimmers' ear manifests as discomfort in the ear, muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, and redness or inflammation. Although most cases improve after 7-10 days with proper treatment, complications or severe symptoms are possible.

Common Risk Factors for Developing Swimmer's Ear

There are a lot of ways you can develop a swimmer's ear, including:

  • Swimming
  • Poor hearing aid care
  • Earwax buildup
  • Humidity

Most people think diving into water is the only way to develop a swimmer’s ear. However, we are more exposed to moisture than we realize. Showers, humid weather and the accumulation of earwax can also trap water in your ears.

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Swimmer's Ear Risks

Water usually comes out of ears due to earwax's water-repellant properties. However, if it doesn’t, trapped water in the ears can lead to bacterial growth and infection.

Symptoms range from mild to severe, including:

  • Pain in the ear
  • Itchy ears
  • Inflammation of the ears
  • Discharge from your ears
  • Difficulty hearing

Water can stay in your ears for days, which can be uncomfortable. If water stays trapped in your ears for days, you may develop an infection, which can lead to more long-term damage and even hearing loss, so you will need to seek medical attention. 

How to Protect Against Swimmer's Ear

It is important to practice good hearing care to keep water or moisture from building up in your ear canal. Here are some tips:

  • Going for a swim? Wear earplugs and a swim cap to prevent water from entering the ear canal.
  • Check your ears for earwax buildup and have a doctor remove excess earwax if needed. Don't attempt to do it yourself.
  • Remove earbuds if you're sweaty.
  • Dry your outer ears with a towel after spending time immersed in water.

Special Considerations for Hearing Aid Users

Hearing aid users should take extra considerations to prevent swimmers' ears because the assistive listening device can trap water and bacteria, leading to an increased risk for infection.

  • Clean your hearing aid regularly to prevent bacterial and moisture buildup.
  • Wear earplugs when swimming.
  • Thoroughly dry your ears after swimming or showering.
  • Dry your ear canal with a blow dryer on the lowest setting (never hot)
  • Wait until your ears are fully dry before placing your device back in.

How to Remove Water From Your Ear

Usually, water drains out on its own. If it doesn't, trap water or moisture can lead to infection. 

The good news is that you can safely remove water from your ears on your own with these helpful tips:

A woman gently tugs her earlobe.
A woman gently tugs her earlobe.

Gently tug your earlobe.

This method can be used immediately. If you feel the water in your ear after swimming or showering, gently tug your earlobe until you feel a sense of relief. Note that water may drain from your ear.

Tilt your head to the side.

Tilt your head to the side for a few minutes and let gravity do the work.

Use a blow dryer

Turn on the blow dryer in the lowest setting (never hot) and hold it about a foot away from your ear. This can help evaporate the air inside your ear canal.

Use eardrops

A doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops to help soften earwax, which blocks water from exiting the ear canal and prevents infection. Your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers to help relieve pain and inflammation if needed.

Key Takeaway

Practicing good ear hygiene and taking special consideration for hearing aid users is a great way to prevent water from getting trapped in your ear canal.

This condition can usually be treated at home, but if home methods don’t resolve the issue, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to avoid further complications.

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Nicole Brener

Copywriter based in Miami, FL. Leads copywriting workshops and mentors women entrepreneurs at the Idea Center of Miami Dade College.

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Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement.

Water in Your Ears? Essential Tips for Hearing Aid Users

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.