Exostosis is known as ‘surfer’s ear’ because it affects many fans of surfing, canoeing, sailing or scuba diving. It is the abnormal growth of the bone in the external ear due to continuous contact with water and cold winds and this occurs in many outdoor water sports and also in the regular practice of skiing. It is not serious but it is annoying and causes ear infections or otitis.
Causes of auditory exostosis or surfer’s ear
Bone growth due to contact with cold water and wind which narrows the ear canal
Exostosis is the bone growth of the external auditory canal due to contact with cold water and wind, which narrows the ear canal, making it difficult for the natural exit of water, earwax, flaking, and possible debris that enters the ear canal. This favors the appearance of ear infections that can lead, if not properly treated, to hearing loss and even to obstruction of the ear canal due to excessive bone growth.
Other causes may be: trauma or eczema.
Symptoms of auditory exostosis or surfer’s ear
Asymptomatic, ear plugging or frequent ear infections
Exostoses are often asymptomatic and are discovered during a routine ear examination. They evolve very slowly so they rarely pose a serious problem. Exostoses or surfer’s ear may also be suspected when providing information about outdoor sports practices at certain temperatures and when frequent ear plugs and otitis appear.
Diagnosis of auditory exostosis or surfer’s ear
Otoscopy, audiological tests and CT
The doctor will perform an otoscopy and, in all likelihood, will refer the case to the otorhinolaryngologist who will perform the external and internal ear examination with the otoscope and audiological tests to detect if there is hearing loss that will include tone audiometry and tympanometry. Additionally, imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT) of the head can be done.
Treatment and medication for auditory exostosis or surfer’s ear
Ear cleaning and surgery
The treatment in mild cases is ear cleaning that should be done periodically in addition to using boric alcohol drying drops in the ears to dry the ear canal after exposure to water or cold. Don’t forget to dry the ear canals and the accessible area of the canal well with the tip of a clean cloth, and you can even use a hairdryer.
In the water you must wear earplugs and a hat. There are caps that allow sound to pass through but not water.
If surgery is necessary, the option is to make a small incision behind the ear and remove the bone excrescence using a surgical drill; and a second method by which the bone is removed by introducing the surgical drill directly into the ear canal.
Contact with cold water or wind should be avoided for 2 to 6 weeks after surgery and use protection systems if you continue practicing outdoor sports that put the ear canals at risk.
Prevention of auditory exostosis or surfer’s ear
Keep ears safe from cold and humidity
The first preventive measure is to carry out a hearing check-up to determine whether or not exostoses exist, since if the disorder has already occurred, using earplugs could be counterproductive by pushing earwax, peeling, or debris into the ear. If there is no risk, it is key to use earplugs and, above all, protective hats. After playing sports, you should immediately dry your ears with a clean cloth, a hair dryer and/or boric alcohol. It is key that alcohol is not irritating as it could be counterproductive.
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