Swim clubs & constant ear problems

[DoMyBest]

Am having a wobbly moment, wondering if my 10 yr old DS should give up swimming so much because of his 'problem' ears. I'd love to hear from any other parents with serious swimmers (regular competition training, diving technique, lots of underwater, etc) with serious ear problems.
DS has a big ear infection about once a year (that we know of). He's had 3x gromet operations (all failed) and his ear is, through scarring from infections, deteriorating as is his hearing. His next op will be a tymponoplasty (spelling?!) and he'll need at least 6 weeks off swim training.
On the one hand, he doesn't excel at any sports so swimming (actually winning things) has been a huge boost to his confidence. He's also a bit of a construction nerd, loves staying at home, and so swimming's a great way to keep him fit.
On the other hand, are all these infections probably caused or aggravated by swimming and should we just stop? Is it all my fault (3am guilt-induced panic attacks) for encouraging him to swim at this level? Made to measure earplugs still let in water so I fear they're not an end-all solution.
Any other parents with 'problem ear' swim kids please share. Am torn. Thanks.

We never got to the level of competing but my son didn't swim for ages and then only in summer and in fresh or sea water all due to recurrent ear infections. Moulded ear plugs, tight swim hats etc didn't guarantee dry ears 100% of the time. We took the view that repeated infections and operations were damaging to his overall health. We did also find that once we got his infections under control, his social interaction improved. It was exhausting for him to have to strain to listen and to fill in the gaps, so it was easier to find refuge in a book or lego than to join in with other activities. He also struggled to hear instructions in sport so would make sure he was never first in line so he could copy other people. Team sports were a challenge as he couldn't hear what else was going on.

He had kind of missed the 'football moment' but he plays hockey to quite a high level which was easier to break into at a later age.

Thanks ForgivenessIsDivine : so the ear infections went away and your son's hearing improved? This is good news (although now I feel even more guilty to have pushed swimming!). Yep my son still gets told off in football etc for not hearing whilstles or instructions - hard to lipread across a pitch. Right, despite being half australian (so swimming is as important as footy is in the UK) I might just have to accept swimming defeat. Sigh. Thanks though.

Everyone is different so what worked for my son might not work for everyone. Stopping swimming wasn't the only thing we did but it was one them. We also changed diet, worked hard on balancing his gut bacteria and used medicinal herbs.

I am sure there are people who have pushed on through and their children eventually grew out of them. Maybe they will be along soon.

Might be worth asking in Children's health.

I think that's a great suggestion by Forgiveness to seek specialist advice on this. Ear infections are certainly common place with lots of swimmers including mine, especially over winter months, and recur as swimmers also seem to be unable to shake off an infection for long, before being stuck again. And whilst some like mine swim through all but fever like/heavy chest like symptoms with as much avoidance of antibiotics, I've never had to deal with the severity that you have.

Is the deterioration irreversible? I do know many swimmers do grow out of it, but if I were in your shoes, I would seek specialist advice on this so you can work with the club/his coach on a strategy (swimmers have fractures/bone breaks etc and still turn up, work on land etc to keep them engaged), they deal with health issues all the time. I'm guessing at 10 he may not be doing the full on training schedule of older swimmers but worth talking through your concerns, they may assure you there won't be a big impact on his development.

I can completely understand if he absolutely loves his sport, taking a break will be hard, but he is still young. Mine is nearly 16, was recently told by her GP that 'knees are for life' when suggesting she quit. Thankfully, we took further advice and now working really slowly on rehabilitation with no performance expectations for this season, but it floored her to consider giving up. Many sports have their challenges on bodies, also musicians in particular struggle with ear/hearing problems if not taking precautions early on.

If it's more you that sees swimming as the key area of his exercise (and this is not a criticism at all, especially if he's got ability and its also helped his confidence!), then maybe a phasing a reduced schedule after his op recovery time may be an option. And in senior school there are other activities that may coax him out of his home...they do get more adventurous!

Hi, my son had numerous infections aged about 11 or 12 - otitis media - which cleared up each time with ear drops, but it didn’t ever affect his hearing. He swims six times a week. Now aged 15 - hardly dare say it as don’t want to jinx him - and he hasn’t had ear problems for years. Whether he “grew out of it” I don’t know.

Your son’s sounds more serious though. Honestly, I would stop for six months and see how it goes as he is only 10. My son’s friend stopped for a year due to health problems (not ear) at about 13. At 16 he was English Champion in two events and qualifies for British, making the final. Now 18 and still going! At 10, some swimmers haven’t even started competing yet so if he keeps his general fitness he has every chance of coming back to it in say September. Adam Peaty was an also ran at 14 so still v early days 😀.

Good luck!

What you describe sounds like a middle ear infection, as opposed to swimmers' ear. If it were the latter, I would recommend ear drops like "Swim Ear" which you apply AFTER swimming and it dries the outer ear. DH used to get ear infections in the good old days when we dived in exotic places. There are quite a few brands these days (your local chemist will probably stock one, or try online). In either case, they do hurt a lot!

It sounds as if you are linked in with ENT professionals. I would ask them the question as well as your son.

I hope your DS grows out of it.