Listen Up: Swimming can hurt your ears

Here in Florida, we're swimming already. Well, I'm not. The water is just too cold. But my kids are diving right in our neighborhood swimming pool and splashing their little hearts out. I love it. Swimming keeps them outdoors, keeps them entertained, and keeps them fit. We plan to spend many of our summer days frolicking in the water. First, though, I need to figure out if swimming is affecting my four-year-old's ears.

Danny woke up crying the other night, just two hours after he'd gone to bed. His dad and I comforted him and loved him and eventually got him to reveal that his right ear hurt. He grabbed it, pulled at it, and declared, "I hate when this happens!" I figured it was an ear infection -- he's had plenty in his short life -- and so I planned to take him to the doctor the next morning.

After a dose of children's Motrin and a good night's sleep, Danny woke up and happily announced, "That medicine made me better" and "My sleep made me better." I thought for sure his infected ear would still hurt, especially since his small dose of Motrin had long worn off. But it didn't.

I'm thinking now that Danny has swimmer's ear. I'll run it by a doctor for a professional opinion but here are some things I might do if Danny's swim time is causing this condition.

• Dry Danny's ears gently with a towel after each swim.
  
  

• Put a few drops of an alcohol- based ear product (I'll ask a pharmacist for a recommendation) in each of Danny's ears after a swim.
  
  

• See a doctor for prescription antibiotic ear drops if Danny experiences continued ear pain or drainage.