Surfers Ear!

Why Are Some Surfers 17 Times As Likely To Go Deaf?
Many surfers are aware of surfer’s ear. It is a disease of the outer ear which lead to deafness and ear infections and is caused by the body’s response to the cooling effect of sea water and wind. The membrane covering the bone triggers the formation of bony nodules around the outside of the ear canal. Over the course of years of unprotected surfing the canal gradually closes over. When the narrowing reaches 90% of the usual diameter of the canal, deafness maybe noticed. Until this point the condition may go unrecognised.
Ear infections are more likely. This is because the narrowing slows the clearing of debris from the canal. Drying time is also prolonged. This creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi in the ear. Very little research has been carried out into the problem. Zenplugs has recently performed some new research into the disease with some interesting results.
The Survey
They sent a survey to all their social media contacts as well as everybody who works at Treliske Hospital in Truro. 203 surveys were completed. They showed that 60% of surfers having spent 10 years or more surfing were aware that they had surfer’s ear already. It is likely that the actual number within this group is higher than this as many of them will not yet have had a diagnosis.
The Results
Wearing a surfing hat and earplugs reduced the risk of developing surfer’s ear by 17 times. In order to protect themselves fully against surfer’s ear the survey results showed that both a neoprene hat and plugs should be worn more than 90% of the time. The group of people following this advice did not develop the narrowing, despite surfing regularly for many years.
Anatomical Variation
The research also showed that the longer that people surfed for, the more likely it was that the affliction would develop. Surprisingly there were a small number of people who never experienced the problem despite not wearing hat and plugs. It is possible that their bone does not respond in the same way to the cold. Another possibility is a variation in anatomy which protects the deeper ear structures from the cold water. Examples of this would be a narrower ear canal or hairy ears.
It is a common misconception that surfer’s ear only affects people surfing in a colder climate. The combination of wind and water leads to evaporation. This cools the outer ear and mastoid bone. This is the bony lump you can feel if you put your finger behind your ear. It is important to keep this warm as well as your ear. If the mastoid gets cold then this can also cause surfer’s ear. This is why it is important to wear a surfing cap pulled low over the ears, as well as plugs.
Summary. If you surf and you want to reduce your chances of going deaf due to surfer’s ear by 17 times then you need to wear surfing earplugs and a surfer’s hat. Without these precautions you are at risk of deafness and repeated ear infections.
Dr Toby Bateson