When water becomes trapped in your ear, it can be an uncomfortable and frustrating experience. While it’s natural to want to quickly fix the situation, it’s important to approach the situation with caution. Knowing what to do and what not to do in safely removing water from your ears can prevent potential injury and ensure effective relief.
We will review some recommended techniques for safely addressing water in the ears, as well as a couple of common mistakes to avoid.
Dos for Getting Water Out of Your Ears
If you feel as if you have water stuck in your outer ear (ear canal), there are several steps you can take to try to remove it at home. With all at-home remedies, use caution and don’t hesitate to call a professional if you are uncomfortable in any way. Consider these tips:
- Tilting your head: Tilt your head to one side and gently pull your earlobe or pull the entire outer ear up and back to open the ear canal. This may help the water to drain out.
- Gently Jumping: While it may sound strange, consider gently jumping up and down a few times to help shake the water out of your ear.
- Using gravity: Lie down on one side with the unaffected ear facing up. This allows gravity to help drain the water from your ear. If possible, you may gently pull your ear up and back to open the ear canal a bit more.
- Using a hair dryer: With this method, use caution. Set the hair dryer on low heat and hold it several inches away from the ear. The warm air can help evaporate the trapped water.
- Using ear drops: Over-the-counter ear drops can help break up the trapped water and make it easier to drain.
Don’ts for Getting Water Out of Your Ears
When it comes to getting water out of your ear, there are definitely some things you should avoid. One common mistake is using objects like cotton swabs or fingers to try to remove the water.
While this might seem like a quick fix, it can actually make the situation worse. Inserting objects into your ear canal can push the water further in, potentially causing injury or pushing the water deeper into the ear canal.
Another thing to avoid is vigorously shaking your head. While this might dislodge some of the water, it can also push it deeper into the ear canal or cause injury to the delicate structures of the ear.
If the water doesn’t come out after a day or so, or if you experience pain, discomfort, or decreased hearing, it’s best to seek help from a healthcare professional. They can safely remove the water and assess your ear if necessary. It’s always better to be extra cautious when it comes to your ears, as they are delicate organs that require proper care.
How to Spot an Infection
If you are concerned about having a possible ear infection, there are some common signs to look for. If your ear hurts a lot, especially when you touch it, it might be infected. If there’s any drainage other than just clear water coming out of your ear, like pus or colored liquid, that’s a sign of infection. Sometimes when your ear is infected, it’s hard to hear things clearly.
If you have a fever along with ear pain, it could mean there’s an infection. Children may feel really cranky or not feel like eating much if their ears hurt. Toddlers may even pull or tug at their ears when they hurt. Do you feel dizzy or unsteady?
If your ear hurts a lot, it might make you feel dizzy or wobbly. If your ear or the skin around it looks red or swollen, it could be infected. While we may not want to think about it, sometimes an infected ear can smell bad.
If you think you have an ear infection, contact your doctor for treatment.
How to Keep Water Out Of Your Ears
If you are prone to having water get stuck in your ears, there are a few options to use in prevention. Soft, flexible earplugs are available over-the-counter to prevent excessive water from entering the canals.
Another option is a stretchy headband made to cover the ears; I find this works well for very young children or for use in addition to earplugs to help hold them in place. For the person needing a more secure fit or needing protection on a more consistent basis (ex. daily showering, swimming, etc.), consider custom swimplugs.
An audiologist can make a personalized impression of the ears to have a set of swimplugs custom-made just for you. These are made to fit more accurately and can even be made floatable! Even with these solutions, the use of eardrops can still be useful if there are no contraindications like a current ear infection, perforated eardrum, or pressure-equalizing tubes in place.
You can always ask your audiologist or doctor for advice.
When to See a Doctor
If you have tried some of the tips and tricks noted here, and you still haven’t found relief, it may be time to visit your doctor. It could be more than just simple water in the ear. There could be an issue with the eardrum, water stuck behind excessive cerumen, or a possible outer ear infection (ex. “swimmers ear”).
Many of the symptoms of common ear infections were described above. A doctor can then diagnose and treat any underlying cause.
Key Takeaways for Managing Water in Your Ears
When water becomes trapped in your ear, it’s crucial to handle the situation with care to avoid potential injury and ensure effective relief. We reviewed some recommended techniques for safely removing water from the ear canal as well as some common mistakes to avoid, which can aggravate the problem.
If discomfort persists or symptoms worsen, seeking medical attention is advised to rule out underlying issues. Prevention strategies, including the use of earplugs, headbands, or custom swimplugs, are some things you should keep in mind to help keep the issue from occurring if possible.
Finally, don’t overlook the importance of consulting a doctor if home remedies fail to provide relief, as there may be a need for professional diagnosis and treatment.Need to see an audiologist? Use our Find An Audiologist tool to find one near you!
