Earplugs do not completely close the ear canal, and water in the ear canal can lead to middle ear infections, so swimming is not recommended for patients with perforated eardrums, with or without earplugs.
Patients with perforated eardrums should keep their ears clean and dry, avoid dirty water in the ear, and avoid excessive use of the ear to avoid middle ear infections and acute otitis media. Wearing earplugs is not completely waterproof, and water may enter the ear canal along with the earplugs and cause infection. Therefore, during the recovery period of tympanic membrane perforation, you should avoid participating in swimming and other programs that can bring water into the ear canal.
It is important to note that if the tympanic membrane perforation is due to trauma, the complication of infection may result in poor healing and hearing loss, affecting the patient’s prognosis and quality of life.
Therefore, patients with tympanic membrane perforation should try not to go swimming until the tympanic membrane is completely repaired, and it is recommended to go to the hospital in time for treatment under the guidance of the doctor.