Custom Swimming Earplugs: What to Know

1. 1We come to youAt home or at your workplace
2. 2We take a measurementOf your ear, during the visit
3. 3Sent by mailYour earplugs are sent to you by mail

What is swimmer's ear, and how do earplugs come into it?

According to MedlinePlus, swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is inflammation, irritation or infection of the outer ear and ear canal, and swimming in unclean water can cause it. Among its prevention steps, MedlinePlus recommends using earplugs while swimming, avoiding swimming in polluted water and not putting cotton swabs in the ear. The NHS also recommends using earplugs or a swimming cap that covers the ears while swimming.

It is worth knowing the other side too: according to the NHS, irritation of the ear canal can also be caused by water or by using earplugs. That is why keeping the earplug and the ear clean matters as much as the earplug itself.

Swimming headphones or swimming earplugs?

A search for "swimming headphones" sometimes means two different things. Swimming headphones are headphones for listening to music that the manufacturer describes as suitable for water. Swimming earplugs play nothing: they are meant to keep water out of the ear canal. This guide is about earplugs.

If you swim with headphones, check the manufacturer's instructions to see whether they are meant for swimming and how to dry and clean them. Everything written here about drying the ear, hygiene and when to see a doctor applies to you too.

Which type of earplug suits swimming?

An overview of all earplug types: earplugs: types and how to choose.

When is a custom swimming earplug the right choice?

• You swim regularly. A reusable earplug, kept in a case in your bag.
• Ready-made earplugs move or fall out in the water. An earplug made to the shape of your ear does not come in a one-size-fits-all size.
• You swim both in the sea and in the pool. Tell us about all the places where you swim.
• You want a spare pair. Where suitable, you can order from the saved measurement. Reordering earplugs

A made-to-measure earplug does not guarantee it will feel right from the first swim. If something does not sit well, repair and refit options are checked case by case. All the details: custom swimming earplugs.

How do you put in and take out swimming earplugs?

1. Dry, clean hands and ears, before you go into the water.
2. Mouldable silicone or wax: form a ball and cover the opening of the canal, without pushing it in. Pre-shaped: put it in gently, as the manufacturer instructs. Custom-made: as instructed when you receive the earplug.
3. After swimming, take them out gently, without pulling hard.
4. Dry the outer ear. MedlinePlus recommends drying the ears well after bathing and swimming.
5. Rinse or clean the earplug as instructed, dry it and put it back in its case.

What else helps keep the ear dry?

• A swimming cap that covers the ears, alone or together with earplugs (NHS).
• In the shower, try to keep water and shampoo out of your ears (NHS).
• Do not put cotton buds or fingers in your ear (NHS).
• Avoid swimming in polluted water (MedlinePlus).

When should you not swim, and when should you see a doctor?

• Do not swim while you have an ear infection. This is what the NHS recommends.
• Ear pain that gets worse when you pull the outer ear is one of the symptoms of swimmer's ear, according to MedlinePlus. See a doctor.
• Discharge from the ear, fever, swelling around the ear or a change in hearing: according to the NHS, see a doctor urgently.
• Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears needs urgent medical attention (NHS).

An earplug of any type is not a medical treatment. If symptoms appear, stop using the earplug until a doctor advises you.

How do you order a custom swimming earplug?

1. A conversation to understand what you need: where you swim and how often.
2. We come to you by appointment, and the measurement is taken as an ear mould. What to prepare before the visit
3. We make the earplugs and send them to you.

The production time is given after the measurement is taken.

Frequently asked questions

Do swimming earplugs prevent ear infections?

No earplug guarantees this. The NHS and MedlinePlus mention using earplugs while swimming as one of the steps that may help, along with drying the ears and avoiding cotton buds.

Can you swim with foam earplugs?

Check the manufacturer's instructions to see whether the earplug is meant for water. For regular swimming there are dedicated earplugs, and also a custom swimming earplug.

What should you do when the earplug falls out in the water?

An earplug that moves while you swim is a sign that the size or type does not suit you. The NHS also mentions a swimming cap that covers the ears. A custom earplug is made to the shape of the ear, so it does not come in a one-size-fits-all size.

Can you swim with an ear infection if you wear earplugs?

No. The NHS recommends not swimming while you have an ear infection. Wait until you recover, and if the symptoms do not go away, see a doctor.

How do you clean swimming earplugs?

Rinse and clean a reusable earplug as instructed, dry it well and put it back in its case. Replace a dirty or torn ready-made earplug as the manufacturer instructs.

When is it worth looking into a custom swimming earplug?

When you swim regularly, when ready-made earplugs move, fall out or let water in, or when you want a pair that always stays in your bag. We come to you at home or at your workplace, take a measurement, and the earplugs are sent to you by mail.

More questions: earplug questions and answers · earplug articles and guides · custom earplugs

Sources

The health information on this page is based on the following sources (checked on 03.11.2026). It is general information and does not replace an examination by a doctor.

• MedlinePlus — Swimmer's ear
• NHS — Ear infections (including otitis externa)
• MedlinePlus — Earache
• NHS — Earwax build-up
• NHS — Hearing loss

Updated: 03.11.2026 · Written by the G-Sound editorial team. General information; the type of earplug and its use are decided case by case in a conversation.

26 years of experience in the hearing field.

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