How do you keep the water outta your ears ? Seriously driving me nuts !!!!

I had the same problem - every time I went surfing I was "deaf" after the first dunking - water in the ears. I would stay "deaf" for hours afterwards. But now I wear this hat and it rarely happens. I think the mesh over the ears stops the water rushing in. And it keeps the sun off your head!

www.surfstitch.com/fcs-wet-baseball-cap-gun-metal2.html

If water stays in your ears, you have most probably "surfer's ear" (exostosis). Bone growth that slowly close your ear canal, trapping water at first, then making you deaf.

See a doctor to check the seriousness of the condition, and you will most probably have to use ear plugs, such as the "surfears".
I now use custom ear plugs during each session. They feel cumbersome at first, but you get used to it. Like an helmet when biking, or the safety belt when driving.

I had similar "deafness" couple of years ago.
Was briefed about the surgical procedure behind a serious case of "surfers ear" by Rosscoe - shared the s**t out of me.
Visited the doctor in trepidation...
He cleaned my ears out with warm soapy water...disgorged a wad of built up sweat, suncream and wax about the size of my thumbnail.
He was rather bemused by my joyous reaction...
So a visit to the Dr would be my first stop LastSupper!

I was deaf 6 months a year for decades cuz of surfing. Doctors all said I needed the "operation"



Didn't ever have it fixed....I just Bought a Kook hat with mesh ear flaps and it NEVER happened again.

Never a problem since.

I credit the wind block provoded by the mesh... water gets in but never bothers me. Wind is the culprit IMO.

try bluetac works for me

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oneback said..
try bluetac works for me

Even my doctor suggested Bluetac

Compared to bluetac, surf ear plugs let you hear...

www.tracksmag.com.au/news/surfers-ear-setbacks-424860

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Helmy said..
I had similar "deafness" couple of years ago.
Was briefed about the surgical procedure behind a serious case of "surfers ear" by Rosscoe - shared the s**t out of me.
Visited the doctor in trepidation...
He cleaned my ears out with warm soapy water...disgorged a wad of built up sweat, suncream and wax about the size of my thumbnail.
He was rather bemused by my joyous reaction...
So a visit to the Dr would be my first stop LastSupper!

I have had my ears syringed 3 times in last year. A build up of wax , sunscreen and other crap. Now I understand why. It coincides with my new venture into SUS since late 2016.
Can't believe how serious this Surfers Ear can get . After reading this post today I went and bought "trial" earplugs from chemist and drops.

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Gboots said..

Helmy said..
I had similar "deafness" couple of years ago.
Was briefed about the surgical procedure behind a serious case of "surfers ear" by Rosscoe - shared the s**t out of me.
Visited the doctor in trepidation...
He cleaned my ears out with warm soapy water...disgorged a wad of built up sweat, suncream and wax about the size of my thumbnail.
He was rather bemused by my joyous reaction...
So a visit to the Dr would be my first stop LastSupper!

I have had my ears syringed 3 times in last year. A build up of wax , sunscreen and other crap. Now I understand why. It coincides with my new venture into SUS since late 2016.
Can't believe how serious this Surfers Ear can get . After reading this post today I went and bought "trial" earplugs from chemist and drops.

But do try the hat. I can't believe the difference. My doc said the same thing about my ears (I have had them syringed previously and have had ear infections, etc. but he says I have "surfer's ears"). You may not want to look like a "kook", but it is handy being able to hear...

Hat forsure for me and the Mrs wears a diy fem wetty head/ear band.
She has made me wear surf hat from Sup beginnings as she's been a Surf Coast theater nurse and seen lots surfers ear.
Prevention is best cure, bring on happy fun kook hats

Bigger waves and fun waves hats

I agree with Colas in believing that (cold) wind is probably the main cause of surfer's ear, but cold water will contribute also. It may be totally wrong, but I have heard folklore that suggests that here in Victoria, those who surf mainly down the west coast have the opposite ear affected first to those who surf the east coast (I have had the operation on my left ear) because of the different wind angle hitting you.
If water is staying in your ears after a surf you can use drops (such as Aqua Ear) which will break the surface tension on the saltwater in your ear, allowing it to clear.
It's when the drops stop working that you need to see a doctor.

After years of windsurfing and having no issues with surfers ear, I've taken to using "surfears" about 5/10 times when supsurfing. I'm not a fan of not hearing anything, I like to hear waves, so I've chosen the best option and that's to use the earplugs about half the time I go out.
TBH, they're not particularly good. The plugs don't drain very well so you still hear a little bit but it sounds muffled.. Some mates use bluetac but I think that's not a good option, others use the foamy squeezy bedtime plugs..

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Rosscoe said..
I agree with Colas in believing that (cold) wind is probably the main cause of surfer's ear, but cold water will contribute also. It may be totally wrong, but I have heard folklore that suggests that here in Victoria, those who surf mainly down the west coast have the opposite ear affected first to those who surf the east coast (I have had the operation on my left ear) because of the different wind angle hitting you.
If water is staying in your ears after a surf you can use drops (such as Aqua Ear) which will break the surface tension on the saltwater in your ear, allowing it to clear.
It's when the drops stop working that you need to see a doctor.

Could a flatwater paddler who doesn't get wet could also get Surfers
Ear if they paddle in cold
wind regularly ?

I had the op both ear canal re bore 2 years ago at 32 yrs get your ears syringed see what the doc says blu tac works good get used to the volume difference really quick.
Yeah you can get the condition from just wind exposure but itll progress slower

Have had the same issues LastSupper.
Got some SurfEars 2.0 earplugs. These things work and have the added benefit of allowing you to still hear!
Compared to other versions I've tried in the past, these ones don't come out in the surf... and even if they did, they have a leash.
Well worth the $60 or so.... and definitely better than spending half the day walking around trying to expel water from your deaf ears..!!

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DiscoStupid said..
Have had the same issues LastSupper.
Got some SurfEars 2.0 earplugs. These things work and have the added benefit of allowing you to still hear!
Compared to other versions I've tried in the past, these ones don't come out in the surf... and even if they did, they have a leash.
Well worth the $60 or so.... and definitely better than spending half the day walking around trying to expel water from your deaf ears..!!

How does the leash work ? If they fall out of both ears what do they connect to ?

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cantSUPenough said..

Gboots said..

Helmy said..
I had similar "deafness" couple of years ago.
Was briefed about the surgical procedure behind a serious case of "surfers ear" by Rosscoe - shared the s**t out of me.
Visited the doctor in trepidation...
He cleaned my ears out with warm soapy water...disgorged a wad of built up sweat, suncream and wax about the size of my thumbnail.
He was rather bemused by my joyous reaction...
So a visit to the Dr would be my first stop LastSupper!

I have had my ears syringed 3 times in last year. A build up of wax , sunscreen and other crap. Now I understand why. It coincides with my new venture into SUS since late 2016.
Can't believe how serious this Surfers Ear can get . After reading this post today I went and bought "trial" earplugs from chemist and drops.

But do try the hat. I can't believe the difference. My doc said the same thing about my ears (I have had them syringed previously and have had ear infections, etc. but he says I have "surfer's ears"). You may not want to look like a "kook", but it is handy being able to hear...

CSE and Creek how does the Kook hat help ?

would this do the job ?

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Gboots said..

DiscoStupid said..
Have had the same issues LastSupper.
Got some SurfEars 2.0 earplugs. These things work and have the added benefit of allowing you to still hear!
Compared to other versions I've tried in the past, these ones don't come out in the surf... and even if they did, they have a leash.
Well worth the $60 or so.... and definitely better than spending half the day walking around trying to expel water from your deaf ears..!!

How does the leash work ? If they fall out of both ears what do they connect to ?

they are connected to a elastic type string

check out surfears.com/product/surfears-3-0/

it's easier to have a look than me try and explain

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DiscoStupid said..

Gboots said..

DiscoStupid said..
Have had the same issues LastSupper.
Got some SurfEars 2.0 earplugs. These things work and have the added benefit of allowing you to still hear!
Compared to other versions I've tried in the past, these ones don't come out in the surf... and even if they did, they have a leash.
Well worth the $60 or so.... and definitely better than spending half the day walking around trying to expel water from your deaf ears..!!

How does the leash work ? If they fall out of both ears what do they connect to ?

they are connected to a elastic type string

check out surfears.com/product/surfears-3-0/

it's easier to have a look than me try and explain

Thanks DS. They look good but still not convinced that if they come loose they won't easily be lost

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Gboots said..
Thanks DS. They look good but still not convinced that if they come loose they won't easily be lost

I do not see how you can loose them, as their leash makes a loop around your neck.

I my opinion, having good plugs that let you hear is important: otherwise, you will just feel like your ears are full with water, blocking the sounds and the slight pressure changes that your body uses (a bit) for balance.

Also, they will prevent eardrum ruptures on falls, once you experience one, you will love good earplugs :-)

Ok thanks Colas.....but this doesn't look like a loop in the picture . Seems to just go behind the neck

Thanks for the feed back crew ! thinken I'll be trying the surfears real soon !!! Even a 50% reduction of bubble head will b good!!!

That lanyard on the surfears pic doesn't show how it fits in real life.

The lanyard is much longer and has an adjustable toggle on it, you place a loop around your neck, adjust the toggle so it's a close fit (around your neck) then either end of the plugs go up to your ears and plug in.
So, if either plug comes out you don't loose them because the main loop is around your neck.. Just make sure you pull enough lanyard out of your wetsuit neck so you can twist your head (otherwise you'll pull the earplugs out)
HTHs.

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Gboots said..

cantSUPenough said..

Gboots said..

Helmy said..
I had similar "deafness" couple of years ago.
Was briefed about the surgical procedure behind a serious case of "surfers ear" by Rosscoe - shared the s**t out of me.
Visited the doctor in trepidation...
He cleaned my ears out with warm soapy water...disgorged a wad of built up sweat, suncream and wax about the size of my thumbnail.
He was rather bemused by my joyous reaction...
So a visit to the Dr would be my first stop LastSupper!

I have had my ears syringed 3 times in last year. A build up of wax , sunscreen and other crap. Now I understand why. It coincides with my new venture into SUS since late 2016.
Can't believe how serious this Surfers Ear can get . After reading this post today I went and bought "trial" earplugs from chemist and drops.

But do try the hat. I can't believe the difference. My doc said the same thing about my ears (I have had them syringed previously and have had ear infections, etc. but he says I have "surfer's ears"). You may not want to look like a "kook", but it is handy being able to hear...

CSE and Creek how does the Kook hat help ?

would this do the job ?

I only stumbled upon it as a solution. I was consistently going "deaf", usually after the first wave. Over the past few weeks it has been pretty sunny and I was wearing that hat (I have others but they don't have the mesh over the ears). That's when I realized that I wasn't going deaf the whole session. Then I went surfing without it (early morning and cloudy) - went deaf. Had a session with my helmet (with ear pieces removed) - deaf. Had that hat on for the next few sessions - not deaf.

My theory is that the fine mesh (it is like Lycra) stops the water rushing in and penetrating deep enough to block my ears (both ears). I was still going under the water and surely water was reaching my ear, but not blocking them.

Anyway, it works for me...

Thanks CSE and SB....always learning

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SunovaBouy said..
That lanyard on the surfears pic doesn't show how it fits in real life.

The lanyard is much longer and has an adjustable toggle on it, you place a loop around your neck, adjust the toggle so it's a close fit (around your neck) then either end of the plugs go up to your ears and plug in.
So, if either plug comes out you don't loose them because the main loop is around your neck.. Just make sure you pull enough lanyard out of your wetsuit neck so you can twist your head (otherwise you'll pull the earplugs out)
HTHs.

Here is the pic:
Note that I never lost both. I sometimes lost one during a heavy wipeout, but I guess it is because you fall on one ear, so the other one has no risk of falling out. I now use custom ear plugs with a leash that do not go around the neck, and never had an issue, nor read anybody have one.

Surfers ears are a combination of sand, ear wax and cold water, wind will chill the water through your ears. As your ears get repeatedly exposed to the cold sea water the bones shrink inwards, closing the hole for the ear to resonate sound. Sand needs to be included as this forms the blockage with the ear wax (cholestoral).
It is unlikely that you would get surfers ear paddling in flat water as your ears flush the water out when standing up.
All earplugs will stop the sand particles in the water and therefore stop the problem too.
If the mesh over the ears is fine enough to stop the sand particles then it should work too.
Remember that sand particles are present in most ocean pools as well as at the beach.
The operation is extensive. If at all concerned see a doctor for a flush of the ears and use ear clear peroxide, which dissolves the wax, and leave it in for a prolonged period.
Your ears when cleared will revert back to a more normal position when using the ear plugs or ear clear.
A check is turn on the TV, if you can hear the TV on 10-12 volume setting then your ears are okay. IF your 22-30 volume youve got a blockage. 35-45 you need a good syringing.

I don't know where you got the idea that sand has anything to do with Surfer's Ear, I never seen it mentioned. It is the cold, from water or wind. Skiers and sailors can have it. People can have in in tropical weather, with the wind chill. You are confusing Exostosis/Surfer's ear with just dirty ears...

Also, exostosis never recedes by itself, and your "TV test" is bogus as audition loss only comes at late stages.

E.g: www.californiaearinstitute.com/ear-disorders-exostosis-california-ear-institute-bay-area.php

Note that some people are impervious to it, and some very prone to it. The genetic lottery...

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Gboots said..
Ok thanks Colas.....but this doesn't look like a loop in the picture . Seems to just go behind the neck

The video at the bottom of surfears.com/ shows how they attach best.. go to about the 35 sec mark.