Ear plugs while skiing

[david_ski]

I have seen a few skiers use ear plugs before their sets. I have not had a chance to talk to them about their experience (pros/cons). I have road biked and waterskied for years without any hearing protection. Speeds above 30mph, there is quite a bit of wind pressure on ones ears.

 

I am concerned about my long term hearing loss from high speed wind noise, and trying to prolong any further hearing loss.

I am also concerned that a hard fall with hearing protection could cause eardrum damage.

 

Thoughts?

[Wish]

Wind and noise from skiing does not have a high enough decibel level to cause any hearing loss. Slapping the water just right can cause ear drum damage and take you off the water for some time. May want to read this thread.

 

http://goo.gl/Z5iWmn

[Keith_Menard]

I have become more cautious about my hearing as I play music with a band and had some vertigo issues. To correct the vertigo, they put tubes in my ears and one didn't heal right...so, I HAD to wear ear plugs.

 

As I started doing it, I realize, I kind of liked it. It further blocked out the world and the ear protection was an added bonus.

 

I figure if driving with your window down can damage your hearing, waterskiing can't be much different. A couple kids at our club had some ruptured ear drums from barefooting falls..so...ya...just a little added protection.

[Bdecker]

I've perforated my ear drums several times and now use vented ear plugs on a "leash" threaded the tag on my vest. It keeps me from losing them in a hard fall. Occasionally they do fall out, but having them right there makes it really easy to get them back in. Very little hearing loss with them in unless I get water back behind them.

[epnault]

I would recommend these. Great product. My kids used them when they were younger with tubes in their ears.

 

 

https://proplugs.com/

[PatM]

The cheap 3M E-A-R ones are great. Protect from perforations and cut out a sufficient amount of noise.

[PBD]

As someone who picked up 2 ruptured eardrums while water skiing, I understand the need for protection. I wear a neoprene headband whenever I'm skiing.

 

One of the the things I noticed on the falls that resulted in a rupture, was in both cases, it was the initial impact that caused the tear. Now with the headband on, it takes the initial slap and you simply put it back on and get ready to get pulled up again. Since I started using the headband about 25 years ago, I haven't had a rupture.

 

YMMV but it works for me.

[TallSkinnyGuy]

I got an "inflamed" eardrum from a fall back when I was a teenager. That was some of the worst pain I have ever felt and the pain continued for days before it healed enough to stop hurting. I have a neoprene headband in my Amazon cart right now.

[OldboyII]

@TallSkinnyGuy I have exactly same story. Buy several headbands - I keep on loosing them on the start and falls ))

Or think about leash...

[Ashly]

Hitting the water at high speed while water-skiing can rupture your eardrum. Regular exposure to cold wind and water can cause bony growths in your ear canal. This can trap water in your ears, which can result in painful infection. In some cases, growths begin close to the ear canal which can cause deafness.

 

But with advanced technology, people make use of thicker wetsuits and neoprene accessories to fight against these.

 

I had a perforated ear drum after skiing and I was concerned whether I had "Surfer's Ear". So, I consulted hearing experts in Toronto in order to make sure that I have no problem. If you think that you have got a problem with ear, then it is better and safe to seek help before it becomes worse.

[Deep11]

Probably a more important reason to wear ear plugs not mentioned is for anyone skiing in cold water - the development of "surfers ear". Effectively the ear canal closes up with a boney overgrowth from repeated exposure to cold water. 3 of the guys i ski with have significant overgrowth already - I've been advised i need surgery - look it up, not a very nice procedure.

[gavski]

Try these:

https://surfears.com

 

Or these:

http://www.surfplugs.co.uk

 

Both highly recommended from friends that have perferated their eardrums and/or developed surfers ear....both are skiers....

 

[lpskier]

Two friends of mine who are both excellent three eventers with high trick scores (for Eastern Region skiers) both trick and slalom wearing wrestling helmets. They offer complete ear protection while putting nothing inside the ear.

[bishop8950]

Plus, ear protection gives you the perfect excuse to filter undesirable coaching if you choose

 

But seriously, a lot of cold water surfers wear ear plugs as the cold water alone damages your ears independent of the risk of impact rupture.

[GAJ0004]

I wear Mack's earplugs when I swim and ski. You can get them at any pharmacy. They are about 2/3 the size of a grape. I recommend smashing two of them together and using two of them in each ear. I slalom, trick, and barefoot, and have never had a blown out eardrum. I am prone to ear infections which is the primary reason I wear them. They cover the outside of your ear so nothing is inserted into your ear canal. I keep a supply in my boat. I do lose one on occasion from a hard fall, but I keep a supply in the boat..