Tonight, at 23:48 BST, Ellie Simmonds OBE will defend her SM6 200m individual medley title in the pool at this year's Paralympics.
Ellie started swimming at the age of 5 and started competing against able-bodied children at the age of 8. At 10 years old, Ellie entered into the British Swimming talent programme and was selected as the youngest member of a senior British Swimming squad for the 2006 IPC World Championships at just 12 years and 3 weeks of age. Ellie shot to fame when she won her first Paralympic medal at the age of 13 years and 9 months. Over the years Ellie has dominated her sport. Now the recipient of an OBE, Ellie is a 4-time Paralympic Champion and currently has numerous World records to her name.
You may not be up to the medal winning standards of Ellie Simmonds or the other members of Paralympics GB's hugely successful swimming team. But there’s one thing all swimmers are susceptible to, no matter what level they are, and that’s swimmer’s ear.
Swimmer’s ear (also known as Otitis Externa) is caused by regular exposure to water. It’s a condition that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) of the external ear canal, which is the tube between the outer ear and eardrum. Typical symptoms include:
- ear pain, which can be severe
- itchiness in the ear canal
- a discharge of liquid or pus from the ear
- some degree of temporary hearing loss
Swimmer’s ear is pretty common, with an estimated 1 in 10 people being affected by it at some point in their lives.
Experts advise that regular swimmers consider wearing a swimming cap to cover your ears or use ear plugs to protect your ears from water damage.
Arlington Laboratories make custom-fit, full shell swim plugs that keep water out of the ear canal and offer protection for those prone to ear infections or other problems. Swim plugs are a safe, effective way to protect your ears and prevent discomfort when doing an activity you enjoy.
Our swim plugs are available in soft silicone or floatable silicone. They're also available in a wide variety of colours and glitters, so you can customise them to your own style.
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